http://www.boondocksnet.com/gallery/cartoons/jungle04.html
The Jungle cartoon /\
<-the standard oil cartoon 
<--Meat Scandal cartoon
Main Points for Cartoons:
Tarbell Cartoon-
+much like the cartoon in our books the standard oil company is symbolized
as an octopus which has its far-reaching tentacles wrapped around all branches
of the government.
+ the railroads, shipping, and what looks like people have also been
taken control of by the standard oil octopus.
The Jungle Cartoon
+ Uncle Sam cannot stand the fumes while reading a letter on the harsh
conditions at the Chicago Stock Yards.
+ Upton Sinclair’s most most famous novel was titled, The Jungle, and
focused on the poor living conditions at the Chicago stock yards.
+ The fumes which read filth, poison, murder, fraud, and graft resemble
a jungle, which is certainly a reference to Sinclair’s work.
Meat Scandal Cartoon
+ The rake reads, “INVESTIGATION”
+ The cartoon is depicting the topic of the meat inspection act of 1906
where Teddy Roosevelt went against congress when he tried get his inspection
act passed.
+ irony—he used the method of muckraking as leverage even though he
criticized Upton Sinclair, etc. for the same thing.
+ The bottom line is that muckraking is an efficient way to get results.
If you expose a topic as being unjust and back it with an investigation it
cannot be ignored.