Judge — January 20, 1912 — page 2: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Advertising of Advertising" - Judge Magazine, January 20, 1912 This cartoon satirizes the debate over whether advertising increases consumer prices. The illustration shows a man rushing toward a bank with a bag of money on a cart, captioned "Does Advertising Increase the Cost of Living?" The accompanying text presents both sides: a shoe manufacturer argues advertising costs are passed to consumers, while a counterargument claims advertised goods actually sell better in volume, reducing per-unit costs and allowing lower prices. The debate reflects early 20th-century concerns about rising living costs and business practices during the Progressive Era, when advertising was still a relatively new and controversial commercial practice. The page is primarily advertising for Leslie-Judge Company publications.