Judge — January 11, 1919 — page 14: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a single cartoon by Ernest Fuhr titled "U.S.—HEY, THERE! SHUT THAT GATE! THE WAR IS OVER!" The image depicts the U.S. Treasury building with a large gate. A figure representing "Justice" sits atop the building, while below, a man appears to be trying to prevent money (labeled "BILLION'S TAXPAYERS' MONEY") from flowing out through an open gate. Another figure stands alarmed on the right. The satire critiques continued government spending after World War I's conclusion. The cartoonist argues that despite the war ending, the Treasury continues hemorrhaging taxpayer money—the gate should be "shut" to stop wasteful expenditures. This reflects post-WWI fiscal concerns about maintaining inflated wartime budgets during peacetime.