Judge — October 19, 1912 — page 2: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Political Advertisement, Not Cartoon This page is primarily a **Republican National Committee advertisement** (signed by Charles D. Hilles, Chairman), not a satirical cartoon. It's a 1912 campaign piece arguing against Theodore Roosevelt's "Progressive Party" candidacy and promoting William Howard Taft for president. The text attacks Roosevelt as "merely Rooseveltianism" and claims his third-party run splits the Republican vote, benefiting Democrat Woodrow Wilson. It frames the choice as "Taft and Safety" versus "Roosevelt and Wilson and Danger." The advertisement uses economic arguments—tariffs, factory jobs, lower prices—to convince readers that Taft represents stability while Roosevelt represents recklessness. The "Judge" magazine platform gave Republicans space for this direct political messaging rather than satire.