Judge — September 17, 1921 — page 35: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is not a cartoon but a **government advertisement** promoting Treasury Savings Certificates as safe investments. The ad responds to **$500 million in fraudulent stock market manipulations** from the previous year (the text doesn't specify which year, but this likely references early 20th-century scandals). Rather than satirizing something, *Judge* magazine is running what appears to be a public service message. The pitch is straightforward: instead of risky stock schemes that bilk ordinary investors, Americans should buy government certificates offering 4% interest, compounded quarterly. These require no investigation and carry zero risk—the government guarantees return of principal plus interest. A specific example highlights the appeal: a trustee bought sixteen $1,000 certificates for sixteen estate beneficiaries precisely *because* they're "absolutely SAFE." The subtle wordplay in the headline ("no loss to 'Write Off'") suggests investors tired of claiming fraudulent losses on their taxes should choose government bonds instead.