Judge — November 23, 1918 — page 11: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Political Cartoon Analysis This Judge magazine cartoon depicts a confrontation between a well-dressed businessman ("Boss") and a laborer. The laborer is surrounded by papers listing economic hardships: "Fuel Shortage," "Raw Material Shortage," "Labor Shortage," "Income Tax Increased Costs," and "80% of Profits." The cartoon satirizes post-World War I economic conditions, likely from the early 1920s. Labor claims the boss has "nothing on" him—meaning labor's burdens from fuel rationing, material scarcity, and tax increases rival or exceed the boss's complaints about lost profits. The satire critiques how businesses blamed workers for economic problems while workers faced genuine shortages and increased tax burdens. It's a commentary on class tensions during America's post-war economic adjustment period.