Judge — May 17, 1902 — page 8: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This Judge magazine cartoon satirizes J.P. Morgan, the powerful banker and industrialist. The "American Workingman" (depicted as a small figure) addresses Morgan (shown as a bloated giant on the right, wearing medals and fine clothing) with a sarcastic suggestion: bring foreign ships into American ports, but construct new vessels domestically. The satire targets Morgan's conflicting business interests—he profited from both importing foreign goods and domestic shipbuilding. The cartoon critiques how wealthy industrialists like Morgan leveraged their influence to benefit themselves while claiming to support American workers and industry. The American flag and shipyard setting emphasize the nationalist rhetoric masking selfish corporate interests. The workingman's small stature contrasts sharply with Morgan's enormous figure, highlighting the power imbalance between labor and capital.