Judge — March 5, 1927 — page 12: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Political Cartoon Analysis This Judge magazine cartoon satirizes corruption and poor judicial behavior. Four caricatured figures—appearing to represent judges or legal/political authorities—tower menacingly over a small, cowering "Citizen" labeled at their feet. The figures hold banners reading "Revenue of Filler," "Bribery and Graft," and "Dual Laws," exposing systematic corruption in the legal system. The cartoon's title, "Why We Don't Behave Like Human Beings," sarcastically suggests that these authority figures have abandoned basic human morality and decency. The satire criticizes how judges and officials exploit their power through bribery, selective enforcement, and financial exploitation rather than serving justice fairly. This reflects broader Progressive Era concerns about institutional corruption and judicial misconduct in early American politics.