Judge, 1912-06-15 · page 8 of 28
Judge — June 15, 1912 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes American democratic processes circa 1910s, using three interconnected pieces: **"Referendum"** mocks referendum voting through a dialect joke between Black maids, suggesting the concept is nonsensical compared to lived experience. **"A Congressional Litany"** (poem by James Hay Sr.) attacks elected officials' hypocrisy. Politicians promise moral virtue during campaigns ("walk on a heavenly plane," "keep motives from stain") but immediately abandon these pledges once elected, pursuing self-interest, wasting money, and making "moral blunders" while focusing solely on re-election ("meal ticket for four years"). **"Recalled"** shows a husband invoking the "recall" (a Progressive Era reform allowing voters to remove officials) to escape a financial promise to his wife—treating democracy as personal convenience rather than civic responsibility. Together, these pieces express Judge magazine's skepticism toward Progressive democratic reforms (referendum, recall) and politicians' fundamental dishonesty, suggesting democratic ideals are performative theater rather than genuine governance.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
8. Ay LOS s * with his gavel. In many cases the insur- gent delegates attempt to sit on the platform and knock, but in such a contingency the chairman gives the high sign and the band throws in the high-speed clutch. During the musical melee the insurgent element is ap- proached by the diplomatic corps and the threatened revolution is usually set- tled by arbitration or promissory notes. When all hands have become hors de combat, either by exhaustion or with- drawal to near-by refreshment empori- ums or sanitariums, it is moved to ad- journ. The delegates being unable to dissent audibly, the motion is unani- mously carried by the newspaper report- ers. The people read the accounts of the fracas, seasoned to suit the tastes of their respective newspapers, then congratulate each other on the fact that it is over, that no fatalities have oc- curred, and that they live in a free and enlightened nation where the people (women excepted) rule. Recalled. “Remember, George, dear, you promised, if your man were nom- inated, to give me a hundred dol- lars for a summer gown!"’ “‘Oh—did I say that?” “Yes—you—d id—s a y—just— that!’” “Ab, yes, I remember now! But, my dear, that was before I became a disciple of the recall.'’ PURE DEMOCRACY Referendum. In an upper corridor of a prominent hotel two colored maids were discussing the political situation. The younger seemed to have got the best of the argu- ment, until the subject of referendum was broached. Then it was that the elder, brandishing her broom, exclaimed in a tone of triumph, “Y'all kain’t tell me nuffin’ ‘bout de rougher endum, Miss Chloie, kase Ah done had de rougher endum all mah life!” HER HAT IS IN THE RING. A Congressional Litany. NCE you're elected, you are expected To walk on a heavenly plane; You must give money and never act “*funny,”” And keep all your motives from stain. You must work wonders, but never make blunders, And always show up with gay smiles; You must build bridges, then tunnel the ridges, And water the desert for miles! People are mulish—-and isn’t it foolish When votes have been cornered by me? Ballots are counted, and now I am mounted And work as the greatest king bee! Labored campaigning is dreadfully straining Among all the knights of the hoe. Songs and fair women! This Washington’s swimmin’! I’m due a vacation or so. Once I’m elected, just as I ex- pected, I grab my own brand of bright smiles, Burn all my bridges, and touch only ridges In hitting high places for miles; And I waste money, and often I’m funny, Conversing in ludicrous vein; Then I work wonders—immense moral blunders— T hope I make everything plain? —Yames Hay, Sr. Now will the energetic office- holder put in his best efforts to in- sure his meal ticket for four years. comicbooks.com