Judge — September 19, 1908 — page 8: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This 1908 Judge cartoon satirizes Samuel Gompers, head of the American Federation of Labor (AFL), depicted as an Egyptian pharaoh. The caricature uses racist imagery common to the era, showing Gompers in exaggerated form overseeing workers. The satire criticizes labor unions by comparing Gompers to a tyrannical pharaoh, suggesting he enslaves workers despite their claims of freedom. The backdrop includes signs referencing trusts and free trade—contemporary economic debates. The cartoon's point: labor leaders like Gompers exploit workers under the guise of protection, making them "slaves" in practice despite rhetoric of liberation. This reflects anti-union sentiment prevalent among Judge magazine's business-oriented readership during the Progressive Era.