Judge — December 22, 1917 — page 11: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon depicts a soldier going "over the top"—a World War I term for troops climbing out of trenches to attack enemy positions, an extremely dangerous maneuver with high casualty rates. The figure labeled "LABOR" pushes a soldier (likely representing American troops) upward, while "CAPITAL" rides atop, appearing to direct or benefit from the action. The cartoon satirizes how working-class soldiers bear the physical danger of war while wealthy capitalists profit from military production and conflict. The phrase "with the best of luck" is ironic—suggesting soldiers need luck to survive what appears to be a deliberate sacrifice orchestrated by those profiting from war. This reflects anti-war sentiment and class criticism common during WWI debates in American publications like *Judge*.