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Speaking Of Bandits
Art Young Illustration political cartoon, titled "
Speaking of Bandits: The American Soldiers on the wrong trail," was drawn by the American socialist cartoonist Art Young. It was published in the left-wing magazine The Masses, likely in 1916.
Context of the Cartoon

Historical Event: The cartoon references the 1916 US military "Punitive Expedition" into Mexico, led by General John Pershing, to capture the revolutionary leader Pancho Villa after his raid on Columbus, New Mexico.
Message: The cartoon satirizes the U.S. government's focus on chasing a single revolutionary figure (Pancho Villa) while ignoring what the artist viewed as a larger, more significant form of "banditry": the financial power and exploitation of Wall Street.
Visuals:
The figure labeled "VILLA" is a Mexican man on the left, shown in a rural, barren landscape.
The large, top-hatted man with a money bag labeled with a dollar sign represents the powerful financial interests of Wall Street, depicted as a massive, rich, and protected figure on the right.
The message implies the U.S. "soldiers" are on the "wrong trail," chasing a minor problem while a major one (capitalism/financial power) is overlooked at home.
Speaking Of Bandits - After 2 (Poster)
After 2
Speaking Of Bandits (Poster)
Speaking Of Bandits (Poster)