Judge, 1918-01-26 · page 7 of 28
Judge — January 26, 1918 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This story mocks Leon Trotsky, the Soviet revolutionary and Red Army organizer who was exiled from Russia in the 1920s. The satire depicts Trotsky attempting to find work as a factory foreman in America, absurdly claiming he previously "ran Russia" with Lenin, commanding "several hundred thousand men" to "murder somebody whenever I or Lenine gave the word." The joke targets both Trotsky's implausibility as a job applicant and American anticommunist sentiment. When factory owner Mankelwitz hears these claims, he immediately calls police, treating Trotsky as a dangerous radical rather than a legitimate job seeker. The final panel's dismissive policeman reinforces the era's hostile view of communist immigrants. The cartoon reflects post-Russian Revolution American anxiety about radical foreign influence, portraying Bolshevik leaders as untrustworthy outsiders unfit for American employment or society.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
said the worried- “DDLEASE, sir, ) Prvctine individual with the | A Strange Story sallow skin and the pathetic beard, “please, sir, could you give me a job as foreman of the cutting room? I have had much experience in the handling of men.” Abe Mankelwitz, president of the Flossyfit Skirt Co., re- garded the applicant dubiously. “Your face ain’t familiar,” said he noncommittally, “What's your name, who was you with last, and why did you quit them? “My name is Leon Trotzky,” replied the applicant, cough- ing apologetically. “My last job was running Russia with my old friend Lenine. Lenine was president, and I was Foreign Minister. We—er— got tired of the job and decided to come back to America where we wouldn't be so nervous all the time for fear someone was going to slip a bomb By KENNETH under us.” Abe Mankelwitz Rae unobtrusively pressed : So a button far under- neath his desk. “So,” said he with an air of kindly interest, “so you was Foreign Minister of Russia, was you? Well, well, well! That must have been real nice! You lived ina The blonde—Do you think a girl should ever propose? The brunette—I hardly know, dear—Have you tried everything else? A LISTENING POST armies and castle, I suppose, and he stuff like that “Oh, sure,” replied Trotzky wearily. “We had several hundred thousand men, and they would go out and murder somebody whenever I or Lenine gave the word.” “My! My led Abe Mankelwitz. ‘What a_interest- ing experience! I bet you was sorry to leave Russia!” Something peculiar about Mankelwitz’s tone caught Trotzky’s ear. “If you haven't any place for me,” said he, moving toward the door, “I'll be going.” At that moment jal policeman entered the door. ‘Did you ring, Mr. Mankelwitz?” he asked. “T sure did! This guy has been telling me 4 that he used to boss a Russia with another 5 i guy. Run him over to the station house and find out where he es- aks caped from, will you?” The special police- man shook his head re- provingly at Trotzky. “You shouldn’t come around springing sto- ries like that on busi- ness men,” said he. Trotzky sighed ceeply. “ it _ he admitted bitterly, “T doubt it myself! Then he went with thespecial policeman, ROBERTS