Judge — May 8, 1886 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This political cartoon satirizes labor disputes of the 1880s. The caption reads: "Democratic Strikers—Discharge those mugwump scabs or we'll boycott you. Rats! Rats!" The scene shows a widow's bakery being threatened by striking workers. A "Mugwump" was a Republican who crossed party lines—here used as an insult for strikebreakers. The strikers demand she fire non-union workers or face boycott. The satire targets Democratic strikers' aggressive tactics against a widow trying to run her business. By showing her vulnerable position facing intimidation, Judge (a Republican publication) criticizes labor activists as bullies using coercion rather than legitimate negotiation. The rats reference suggests union members are vermin-like pests.