Judge — February 12, 1910 — page 16: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon attacks urban corruption and labor exploitation in early 20th-century America. The two large caricatured faces dominate the center—likely representing corrupt politicians or business leaders engaged in dishonest dealings. The surrounding vignettes mock various social ills: - **"Pocketbook Mystery"** depicts theft and embezzlement by trusted officials - **"Contract Labor"** shows workers exploited with unfulfilled agreements - **"Health Food"** ridicules false wellness claims - **"Suburban Boom"** satirizes real estate schemes with misleading promises ("anywhere you say, we are bound to please our customers") - **Bottom protest signs** demand labor reforms: "Give us our rights," "Women want no matrimony," "We demand one day rest each year" The title "Come Heah & Be Nah Valentine" appears to be a pun on Valentine's Day, reframing corrupt dealings as "love" (ironic affection for money/power). The overall message: systematic dishonesty permeates business, labor, and politics, victimizing workers and consumers through broken contracts and false promises.