Judge, 1903-01-03 · page 16 of 16
Judge — January 3, 1903 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a six-panel satirical cartoon mocking the labor movement's proliferation of strikes in early 1900s America. Each panel depicts an essential resource or service personified as having "unionized" and declared a strike: - **The Pump** (water workers) - **The Stove** (Federation of Fires) - **The New Wheat** (Amalgamated Order of Cereals) - **The Oak** (Forest Trees' Protective Association) - **The Fish** (Pond Union) - **The Lamb** (Lamb's Wool Union) The cartoon ridicules union organizing by absurdly extending strike logic to inanimate objects and animals—implying labor activism had become excessive and ridiculous. The caption's sarcasm ("it might be worse—think of what might happen!") suggests fear-mongering about labor unrest. This reflects Judge's anti-labor stance during an era of significant American labor disputes and unionization efforts. The satire targets what the magazine viewed as unreasonable strike demands disrupting essential services.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
‘Tue pump—“It's no use, Mister Milker; I'm off the job. You can't ‘Tue New wHeat—" This ts as far as we can grow this The get any water to-day, by order of the walking delegate of the United ‘Amalgamated Order of Cereals haa dectared a strike a Water-pumpers’ Association of America."” Tue stove— You might as well stop trying to light me—I'm on THe —""Get out of here! Y. strike. The Federation of Fires, District Assembly 109, has ordered us hero. "The Foreat Trees’ Protective Assoclation fas orderel'a att ake vounn® ‘The rish—‘* It isn't any Use waiting, Mister Iceman. I've been asked Tue tama—" I know you will be put to trouble, but the ) Lamb's ‘Wool * to tell you that the Pond Union Is on strike and won't freeze this year.” Union has ordered-us to strike till our demands are settled.’ OH, WELL, IT MIGHT BE WORSE—THINK OF WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN! COPYRIGHT 19OZ BY JUDGE COMPANY OF NEW YORK. ‘Sackett Wihelins Litho & Prg Co Rew York comicbooks.com