Judge — December 21, 1907 — page 2: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Uncle Joe" and "Are We a Free People?" The main cartoon depicts a figure labeled "Uncle Joe" using a megaphone to address a crowd of children below, with text reading "HE HEARS THOSE ANGEL VOICES CALLING, UN-CLE JOE." The accompanying article discusses Uncle Joe as "one of our biggest guns"—likely a prominent political figure of the era, though the specific identity is unclear from this excerpt. The cartoon satirizes his influence over the populace, particularly children, depicted as small figures responding to his calls. The right-hand article, "Are We a Free People?", debates the "closed" Sunday—New York's enforcement of blue laws prohibiting alcohol sales. The piece critiques government restrictions on individual liberty, arguing that while laws passed by majorities shouldn't be dismissed, they still constrain personal freedom. This reflects early 20th-century tensions between Progressive regulation and individual rights.