Entrance needs enlarging
President Roosevelt points to a small “prison door” with a man labeled “Congress” by his side. In the background is a police officer chasing a “corporation criminal” that has millions of dollars. Inside the prison is a “man who stole $3.00” and a “pickpocket.” Caption: President Roosevelt — “You see, we want that door cut larger so that when we catch one of those big fellows we can put him inside and not let him loose with the public.”
Comments and Context
President Roosevelt’s complaint, pictured in Jay N. Darling’s cartoon, was and is a cliche in debates about the American criminal justice system — that small-time criminals are incarcerated but, frequently, major lawbreakers “use the system” or evade major penalties and jail time.