Judge — December 13, 1919 — page 10: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "The Nation's Business" - Political Satire Page This Judge magazine page uses cartoons to satirize American social problems of the Prohibition era (1920s-1930s). The top-left cartoon mocks labor unions ("Come and Unionize"), depicting strike organizers offering workers false comfort amid poverty. The top-right shows a camel labeled "Bored" being tempted with alcohol—likely symbolizing how Prohibition drives people toward vice. The center cartoon depicts forced alcohol consumption, referencing how Prohibition created dangerous black-market drinking. The bottom-left warns about unchecked commerce exploiting workers. The final circular cartoon depicts a bug surrounded by labels representing various social ills—"the strike microbe"—suggesting strikes cause widespread economic damage. The cartoons collectively argue that labor unrest, Prohibition's failure, and unregulated business practices represent interconnected threats to the nation's stability and prosperity.