Judge, 1916-10-28 · page 11 of 28
Judge — October 28, 1916 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The main cartoon satirizes labor union organizing among immigrants on Long Island. Henry (likely representing a union organizer) lectures Pa Sedley and Markowitz (Jewish immigrants, suggested by dialect and names) about union demands. The satire mocks both overzealous union rhetoric and immigrant workers' priorities: Henry demands absurd domestic concessions (smoking privileges, unsupervised nights out, wives staying home), while Markowitz balks only when unions threaten the garment/skirt business—revealing self-interested hypocrisy beneath union solidarity talk. The accompanying short jokes target politicians (the vice-president's obscurity) and use animal fables for social commentary (the hen unable to get a gentleman's seat—likely satirizing both chivalry's decline and class indifference). The overall tone is mocking toward labor organizing, immigrants, and their perceived contradictions—typical of Judge's satirical stance during the early 20th-century union movement debates.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
LONG “What's ailin’ you, Pa Sedley? Can't you keep yer feet?” “Min-i-mum, min-i-mum,” stam- mered Henry, “what's the difference what it is; I can’t tell you exactly—but it’s in all union demands—it’s the least what you'll take and the most what'll you'll get. But that ain’t all what you must demand. Even if you only want one thing, ask for a dozen and maybe you'll get one. Ask also for a reduction in the number of your wives’ hats and gowns a season.” “That would be grand!” exclaimed Markowitz, nodding his head. “That ain’t all,” maintained Henry. “You must demand the right to be ab- sent from home one night a week with- out explanations and come home late a couple times without lectures!” “Fine—fine!” mumbled Markowitz. “And you must also stop,” continued Henry, “by putting with your demands, weiber from going through their hus- bands’ pockets and reading their hus- bands’ mail.” “Right—right!” agreed Markowitz. “And you must be allowed,” asserted Henry emphatically, ‘to smoke any amount, any time, any place and any brand!” “Wonderful—wonderful!” repeated Markowitz. “And weiber should stay where they belong—in the home!” cried Henry ora- torically. “They shouldn’t run around a whole day! You must demand that they stay in the house and make their own dresses, their own skoits, their tf “What do you mean, make their own skoits?” broke in Markowitz with surprise. “Just what I said,” asserted Henry. “And kill the skoit business!” cried Markowitz angrily. ‘‘Not for mine! I never did and never will t in unions. it. Unions or Pants Unions—Suffra- giskes or Husbands’ Unions—I wouldn’t join a union even if I could play pinocle from Saturday night till Sunday morn- ing. What are you sitting around do- ing notting, Henry? You think you're a union maker? You're a notting!” Un | Hovored Sung Jinks—Of all public servants, the vice-pres- ident of the United States is least known and soonest forgotten. Binks—What about the chairman of the house committce? He Ought to Know Hynx—Jove, that fellow Borrows is a clever chap; he knows more about the clubs in this town than any man I know. Jynx—Yes, the fel- lows say he’s well posted everywhere. Kem ble ISLAND, NEW YORK “I'm keepin’ “em all right; but gol ding it, they can't keep me!” Would Help Some oc E SHOULD all do something to make other people happy,” said the sanctimonious person. “Yes, even if it is only to let them alone,” added the unregenerate one. Respectfully Referrred Pater Familias—Cheer up, little son— you'll be President some day! Little son—Aw, tell that to sis! A LONG-STANDING GRIEVANCE Hen—I've been scratching hard all day, but not one of these gentlemen will offer me a seat! comicbooks.com