Judge — June 1, 1907 — page 8: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This political cartoon depicts labor's resilience during what appears to be early 20th-century labor unrest. The central figure, a muscular workman labeled "THE BIG STICK" (likely referencing Theodore Roosevelt's famous "speak softly and carry a big stick" philosophy), stands firm against two figures on the right—one appears to be a wealthy industrialist or capitalist (in formal dress with top hat) and another figure behind him. The cartoon suggests that organized American labor represents a powerful force that cannot be easily pushed aside by capital or political pressure. The "big stick" imagery ironically appropriates Roosevelt's rhetoric to defend working-class interests rather than executive power. The monumental classical architecture in the background emphasizes labor's foundational importance to American society.