Judge, 1920-03-20 · page 10 of 36
Judge — March 20, 1920 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "Judge" Magazine Political Satire Page Analysis This page satirizes **union bureaucracy and rigid rule-following** replacing practical judgment. The top cartoon shows a "Committee of Learned Gentlemen" investigating the cost of living—mocking how organizations create committees that accomplish nothing but generate reports. The main narrative ridicules **union inflexibility**: a police officer is punished not for misconduct, but for using "common sense" instead of following union regulations. The Director sentences him to work during the next strike as punishment. The satire's point: unions have become so obsessed with rules and procedures that they've lost sight of actual justice or practical governance. The lower illustration, "The Collar-Button That Didn't Roll Under the Bureau," suggests union bureaucracy is so overwhelming it loses track of minor details—the collar-button representing things that slip through excessive regulation. The text passages about "Hon. Howland Rave" and other figures appear to be separate commentary pieces. This appears to be **anti-union satire from the early-to-mid 20th century**, when organized labor faced criticism for institutional rigidity.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
first thirteen volumes of the complete laws of the Grand Affiliated Unions of the World. I had not yet come to the special rules prescribed for handling such cases as the present and so I used my common sense.”” “You're not ‘supposed to use common sense,” the Director snapped. “You're to obey the union rules.” “Yes, sir, I know that. May it please the \ Committee of Learned Gentlemen Retire to the Committee Room to . Director, 1 am a good union man and would not Investiyate the High Cost of Living. for anything violate any of the rules and regula- a {none ; The mehtstce eas bested to me by the aptain of the precinct an thought it was a union We Find that the cost of } s very high stick.” The Director frowned on the miserable culprit. “As you are evidently a new member of the union and did not stage such a disgraceful spectacle with malice aforethought, I am inclined to be lenient with you. I will sentence you to work during the next strike which will be called immediately in the police unions for allow- ing a non-union night-stick to be issued to one of the force.” ‘The crowd applauded the justice of the Director’s decision and the next case was called. ' ' | i i An Appeal to Fate By Texxysox J. Dart You made me what I am to-day, Drown by Dox Henoun The Committee of Learned Gentlemen Emerge from the Committee Room and Report the Result of Their Investigation. As through the years we've ra Now rectify the mess you’ I told the driver how this officer had violated the union I want to be unscrambled. rules, both he and the guard, who are good union men, went on strike and refused to carry me on the ground His Status that it was not a union arrest.” “Does the Hon. Howland Rave cut much figure in your “Very correct,” the Director muttered while the ” we asked. roomful applauded. y as influential here as a prohibitionist is in Scot- “We had to walk to the station house,” the Repre- land,” replied J. Fuller Gloom. sentative continued, “I fur- ther charge this policeman with having hurried me along in excess of the speed allowed by the Union of Individual and Collective Pedestrians. I explained to the officer at the desk, who is a charter member of Local 74,532 of the United Law Enforcers’ Union, and he immediately freed me and apologized.” This statement was greeted with prolonged applause. “John Brown,” said the Director fin a severe voice, “what have you to say for yourself?” “May it please the Direc- tor,” he began, “I am a union man and was just lately in- itiated into the Associated Union of Night-stick Wielders’ Local 110,349. In the short time I have been a union man T have not had the opportunity to thoroughly peruse all the i union rules and regulations. I Drown by Hasturox Wastans H have only studied as far as the Tue Cottar-Button Tuat Didn't Rout Unver tue Bureau! ad comicbooks.com