Judge — October 19, 1912 — page 4: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon sequence from *Judge* magazine contrasts Democratic and Republican economic policies across three time periods (1893, 1912, and the present). The employer character repeatedly tells "Jones" (representing the worker) to vote for different parties, promising prosperity. Each panel shows the actual results: - **1893**: After voting Democratic for "Free Trade," Jones faces closed factories and breadlines. - **1912**: Voting for "trust-busting" Bull Moosers results in higher costs, reduced wages, and no labor demand. - **Final panel**: Only voting Republican for "Tariff and Protection" delivers prosperity—factories booming, overtime work, high wages. The satire argues that Democratic and Progressive policies harm workers, while Republican protectionism delivers genuine prosperity. This reflects the GOP's core campaign message of that era.