Judge, 1917-06-16 · page 4 of 28
Judge — June 16, 1917 — page 4: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two editorial pieces critiquing American politics and governance. The left column ("Invoke Common Sense") warns against "plain people of America" accepting half-baked ideas, cautioning that winning public support doesn't guarantee merit. It advocates for careful reasoning before supporting major causes, implying some contemporary political movements lack substance. The right column ("Sixes and Sevens") satirizes government price-fixing, questioning whether maximum/minimum pricing controls can work without subsidy. It mocks Congressman Kahn of California as a poor actor, and includes barbed comments about a new "Bureau of Foreign Intelligence" lacking actual competence. The golf cartoon depicts government overreach humorously, while the final illustration shows people celebrating, likely related to the editorial themes. The tone suggests early 20th-century skepticism toward progressive interventionism.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Invoke Common Sense T" IS truly regrettable that the plain people of America, those who think in the more sombre tones, have such a slim chance of getting very far with their ideas. The plain truath— the kind that will weigh more next month or next year than it does now—seems to lack wofully in popu- lar app It has little news value. Un- less it is tricked out in some outrageous garb or twisted and bent this way and that, we look it over dismally and readily conclude that it surely can’t amount to much. But it is our sober thoughts that make us or break us. And our sober thinking will determine finally whether good or evil will come from the great task in which Old Glory is now engaged. Ideas that flash and phrases that tickle the public tympanum will continue to usurp the front page, of course; but common sense is going to win the war—probably with the soft pedal on. Rancor and hate on the one hand, and platitudes and piffle on the other, will furnish all the fortissimo and all the tremolo that are needed. All those who wish to do their Uncle Sam a real and unrewardable service are warned to be on the look- out for common sense and ungar- nished truth. Everything else is sure of a reasonable welcome. But sense and truth should be made to feel at home for a_ while at least. Then they should be given a pass on to a_ friend indeed. And every once in a while they should be flung headlong at the fool who knows them not. Sixes and Sevens S for the plan of having the government fix the maximum and minimum prices, is there minimum enough to be worth fixing? Doesn’t the maximum seem to be holding its own without governmental aid? 2 Samson, who smote the Philistine with the jawbone of an left no known progeny—but his weapon begot the Congres- sional Record. cd Congressman Kahn, of California, is an actor. Certain of his colleagues might feel more at home with him if he were a bad actor. 2 If there is a newspaperman concealed in the newly created “Bureau of Foreign Intelligence,” he will blue pencil the word “foreign”? as tautological. Nobody has accused the bureau of native intelligence. & The Prussians pray God for aid, take the credit to themselves when they succeed, and blame the Almighty for their failures. — Philadelphia North American Sometimes we wonder to whom some non-Prussians pray—if they ever pray—and whom they blame for their failures—if they ever think they fail. ¢ According to a cable “everybody in Russia is now per- mitted to talk.” Has the new régime in Russia gone and repealed the ancient and honorable estate of husbandhood? dispatch Thank goodness, the cost of liv- irfg can’t be boosted much higher— not even by remedial legislation. comicbooks.com