Judge — March 8, 1919 — page 12: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Political Cartoon Analysis This 1920 cartoon from *Judge* satirizes the Republican National Convention's presidential selection. The central image shows a farmer milking a dry cow, captioned "Begosh She's Going Dry"—metaphorically depicting American business exhausted by labor strikes and high costs of working (referenced in the upper panels showing industrial strife). The bottom section presents a choice between two candidates: General Pershing or General Wood, asking voters "Would you like Pershing or Wood you not?" This is a play on words mocking the decision facing Republicans. Left side: "Up a Tree" shows the "Reds" (communists/labor radicals) literally climbing a tree, symbolizing the threat of radicalism the Republicans hoped to address through their candidate selection. The overall message: American business is exhausted by labor unrest and strikes, and Republicans are choosing between two military leaders to restore order.