This famous political cartoon requires quite a bit of context for those that don't know. It shows President Roosevelt partaking in an action referred to as "muck-raking". This is a disparaging term for journalists or equivalents who "rake" through the seemingly innocuous events in search of any "muck" in order to reveal any amount of negative aspects. A term, unfortunately, thrown all too quickly at times, such as in this case. Upton Sinclair's book, "The Jungle" was published with the hope of revealing the horrifying conditions of early 20th century meat-packing facilities. At first, the book and Sinclair himself were dismissed as overreactions until the problem became far too clear to ignore. Several men in the war had eaten meat packaged with boric acid, becoming too sick to fight, or simply dying. Many other such examples began to fall upon the ears of the public.
When president Theodore Roosevelt expressed his support to fight the meat industry's scandal, the once-negative term of "muck-raker" became a symbol. One of justice, and of corruption being given its due. As the picture's caption, and Roosevelt's own words express, it is an unbecoming kind of ghastly procedure, but one that is utterly necessary for the safety of the American people.
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