Judge — June 12, 1909 — page 2: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Going Up" Cartoon Analysis This cartoon satirizes wealth inequality and class dynamics in early 20th-century America. The image depicts an elevator operator (in uniform) speaking to a well-dressed gentleman, saying "Say, hub? I asked you to let me down, but you're going up instead." The joke plays on double meaning: the operator literally cannot lower the elevator, but the phrase also suggests the wealthy passenger is socially "going up" while the working-class operator remains stuck. The satirical point critiques how wealthy people ignore workers' requests or concerns—the operator's plea is dismissed because their social station doesn't matter to those above them. This reflects Judge magazine's typical commentary on labor relations and class stratification of the era.