Judge, 1899-05-13 · page 5 of 18
Judge — May 13, 1899 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes the relationship between wealthy coal barons and their workers during the industrial era. The main cartoon depicts a coal baron dismissing miners' wage demands by claiming "times are hard." When workers note they can barely afford rent and food, the baron callously responds they should be grateful—and even offers to have the company doctor remove their stomachs so they won't need to eat. The satire is brutally dark: the baron treats workers as disposable, suggesting their basic human needs are unreasonable complaints. The joke hinges on the absurdity of the baron's "solution"—he'd rather eliminate workers' biological needs than pay fair wages. This reflects real tensions between industrial capitalists and laborers in early-20th-century America, where workers had minimal protections and owners felt no obligation to provide living wages. The page also includes lighter humor about horse jockeys earning more than congressmen, unrelated to the main satire.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
MUST BE NO MISTAKE, OR a long time Dor- othy had been very anxious to have a isored out- On her mother's _ promis- ing her one the next time she went to the store, the little girl exclaimed in a tone of cau- tion, “Be sure to get one witha piazza on both ends, mamma.” THE POOR MAN'S BURDEN. THE coal baron was taking a look over his property and the miners determined that it was a favorable time to present thei vances and demand an increase of wages. Well, what can I do 7, for you?" asked the coal tli} ~Skb baron, addressing the spokes- man of the miners, who ad- vanced toward him, hat in Epitu —" They say Jockey Tod Sloane makes more money than a congressman. Do you believe it . hand, ‘Tom Texsror—" Oh, no! He simply gets more salary.” “Times are mighty hard with the boys,” replied the miner, “and they have delegated me acom- “Things can’t be as bad as you say. Do you earn enough to pay your mittee ¢ to ask for an increase of wages. ee “Anu why should I raise your pay, my good man ?” returned the coal es, sir,” replied the miner. baron. en you have no kick at all coming,” returned the coal baron. Il you need in these Science has demonstrated that one can we could earn enough to pay rent and feed ourselves, but now we have to live all right without a stomach, Don’t let me hear run in debt for one or the other.” “ Because you have cut it down,” said the miner, “It used to be that y more complaints from you. I'm ready to do the right thing. Here's an order on the “Tut, tut,” answered the coal baron, with a wave of his hand, company’s doctor to have your stomach removed.” HE GOT BURNED * How red your face vas, Isaacstein! Vas you sun-burned ?” Yes. I shust had a lectle peeshnish transaction mit my son Maurice, der stock-broker, unt I vas son-burned to beat der band !” comicbooks.com