Judge — May 9, 1914 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon by James Montgomery Flagg contrasts two figures labeled "Society Crooks." On the left is an elegantly dressed woman in fashionable Edwardian attire; on the right is a well-dressed gentleman in top hat and formal wear with a cane. The satire suggests that wealthy "society" people engage in dishonest or immoral behavior despite their refined appearance and social status. By calling both figures "crooks," the cartoon mocks the hypocrisy of the upper class—implying that polished exteriors and social respectability mask criminal or unethical conduct. This reflects Progressive Era skepticism toward wealthy elites and their actual character beneath their public veneer of respectability.