Judge, 1924-06-07 · page 13 of 37
Judge — June 7, 1924 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Political Satire on Prohibition Enforcement This Judge magazine page satirizes Prohibition enforcement efforts during the 1920s. The top cartoon depicts the "Dry Navy"—a humorous reference to federal agents tasked with preventing alcohol smuggling—battling "Rum Row" (smugglers operating beyond the legal twelve-mile limit). The joke compares this conflict to naval warfare, with commanders exchanging absurd orders about "labels" and "kicks." The accompanying story mocks how ineffective Prohibition enforcement was: fishermen casually recover smuggled cases of scotch and rye from the sea after battles between agents and bootleggers. Below, secondary jokes contrast pre- and post-marital spending habits, mock Congress as incompetent, and reference Samson and Delilah. The overall message: Prohibition was unenforceable and widely mocked by the public as futile government overreach. The elaborate "Dry Navy" metaphor emphasizes how absurdly the government pursued alcohol enforcement while losing the broader war against smuggling.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Down to the Sea in Cases Ov momentous day there steamed out of New York harbor the Dry Navy, pride of the seas and dread of the half- over. Nothing might compare with that mighty fleet, least of all the regular United States Navy, which had been steadily reduced to a mere marine shadow of her former self. On the other hand, the strength of the Dry Navy had been increased at each Drink Limitations Conference held in Washington. Leaving her favorite berth, the dry docks, behind her, the Vols' armada laid her course for the twelve-mile limit to do battle with the irregular, the highly irregular, flotilla of Rum Row. Large as it was, the Dry Navy was by no means undermanned. ‘The country- side had been combed by the cider press gangs and many an Eighteenth Amend- ment rebel was now ‘tween decks, rated on the ships’ muster rolls as A. S. (Able Scofflaw). Down, down came the hail of a lookout sighting two divisions of the Rum Fleet, one off the port bow, the other off the sherry. The foe was seen to be clearing decks for action by throwing over the side and further stocking Davey Jones's locker, already the envy of all the » clubs in the United State The stirring sayings of Imirals of tl two fleets just before joining conflict are worthy of perpetuation. ‘The Dry com- mander signaled, “Don’t fire till you see surplus case: most exclusi the whites of their labels!” ‘The Wet re- tort was, “Damn the torpedoes—they haven't got much of a kick!” All that day the sea fight raged and the next dawn saw the kindly fisher folk heroically working in the surf, Finally, late in the day, an aged fisher- man was heard to say to his loyal wife: “Well, Marier, we’ twenty cases of Scotch, eleven of rye and five of cordials, and I guess that’s all hereabouts. Might row out and save them two fellers lashed to that spar.” rescued Visitor—Only three keys on your typewriter? Stenographer—Yes—my boss is a man of few words. iL A Night’s Expenses Before He Married— i cocktails (Volstead rates) Cigarettes Dinner (including tip) Hat check girl (tip) 2 orchestra seats for musical show Starter (tip) And After Strect car fares 2 balcony seats at movies Street car fares Patrons of Posterity “T must good word for our Congressmen—they're such a self-sacri- ficing lot.” L's a new one.” say a “It seems to me they do nothing but make mistakes for future generations to profit by.” Ry Tf Samson had lived to- say simply to Delilah: bob my hair quick and thing over with.” y he would Well, get the darned girlie, ~ Ccomicbooks.com