Judge, 1924-12-13 · page 6 of 36
Judge — December 13, 1924 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "Claus and Effect" - Judge Magazine Satire This page satirizes professional department store Santas through a labor-union meeting scene. The cartoon depicts Santa Clauses organizing collectively, with various "clauses" (puns on "Santa Claus") demanding better working conditions: shorter beards, eight-hour days, no doubled shifts during busy Saturdays, and refusing to work in harsh winter weather. The satire targets the emerging labor movement of the early 20th century by applying union rhetoric and formal meeting procedures to the absurd scenario of Santas striking. The punchline rests on the verbal wordplay between "Claus" and "clause" (contract terms), while mocking both aggressive unionization and the commercialization of Christmas through cheap department-store Santas. The "Funnybones" cartoon below offers lighter comic relief about Santa's weight.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
DO Your CHRISTM “Gee, Mae! SHOPPING 7 EARLY! 7 wy “Do Your Christmas Shopping Surly!” Claus and Effect “<Cper!” barked the bearded chairman; sharply rapping his 1 Cor ses is here- We will first hear from the Department Store Division.” “Mr. Chairman, the members of the Department Store Santa Claus Union, Local No. submit the following platform: (a) shorter beards and cleaner; (b) an eight- hour day ‘and. no kissing ‘squalling infants; (c) we will not double as salesmen in the women’s underwear department on Saturdays.” Another bearded’ speaker’ arose. “Mr. Chairman, The Amalgamated gavel, “the Third Anni of Professional Santa C by called to order. vention busy December \ USF NYS COMO F~ The way some people act you'd think: that sign read ta Clauses demand (a) warmer overcoats; (b) larger handkerchiefs; (c) busier corners; ast beef sandwiches twice ) pocket flasks; (f) redder Street Corner Se a third hirsute orator raised his voice. “The Federated Santa Fathers will no longer (a) don beards and disguises on Christmas Eve; (b) crawl down chimne: life and limb; (c) hide in the cellar on Christmas Eve until the children have been put to bed.” veral other subordinate Clauses d their sentiments, when sud- denly a ruddy-cheeked figure with a longer beard and twinkling slowly wabbled up to the speakers’ platform, “Gentlemen,” he began, “I am perfectly content to go about’ my Santaclausical duties without pay, without ideal working conditions, in storm and sleet, snow and wind—in fact, I Voi been doing it now for years Wretcl assembled Heretic!” Clauses: itor! shricked the “Surrender your union card. Le your beard “at. the door and never whiten our threshold again. Who are you, who dares violate ¢ y sec tion of the professional Christmas credo?” h, gentle gentlemen,” softly crooned the portly figure, “Iam only the real Santa Claus. Good day.” Arthur L. Lippmann Funnybones Balloon tires are easier on pedes- trians. Tuadge will pay 85 or Gach one printed Santa Claus really is a little bitty skinny guy comicbooks.com