Judge — June 16, 1888 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This Judge magazine cartoon depicts a wealthy gentleman (left) negotiating with what appears to be a working-class laborer or contractor (center, wearing a hat). The laborer holds a shovel and appears to be in a ditch or excavation site. The caption reads: "He's got to dig, and so I will if they don't kill me!" The satire appears to critique labor exploitation—likely commenting on dangerous working conditions, low wages, or unfair contracts imposed on working-class men. The gentleman's composed demeanor contrasts with the laborer's apparent desperation and mortality concerns, highlighting class inequality and the power imbalance in labor negotiations during the Gilded Age or Progressive Era.