Judge — April 17, 1920 — page 22: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page from *Judge* magazine contains satirical cartoons criticizing oil industry practices and wealth disparity. The left panel shows industrial smokestacks with the caption "Consumer: what goes up must come down"—likely critiquing how pollution and costs rise while profits descend to ordinary people. The right panel depicts "Cool Oil Johnnie" (a caricatured wealthy oil magnate) in various scenarios: juggling money while labeled "Drys" and "Wets" struggle below, and bathing in wealth. The figure represents excessive oil-industry riches amid economic hardship. The top vignette asking "Can He Ever Catch It?" appears to reference speculative bubbles or unsustainable wealth accumulation. Overall, the cartoons mock oil-industry excess and the disparity between corporate profits and consumer welfare during the early-to-mid 20th century energy sector debates.