Judge, 1927-10-15 · page 11 of 68
Judge — October 15, 1927 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "Judging the Stars" - Judge Magazine Satire This article satirizes **Judge Landis**, Commissioner of Major League Baseball, through caricature and commentary. The cartoon depicts him as a distinctive figure with white hair and dark complexion, emphasized as his "greatest personal asset." The satire works on multiple levels: 1. **Physical mockery**: His appearance is exaggerated for comedic effect; the author imagines him as a potential silent-film actor alongside Chaplin and Keaton. 2. **Personality critique**: Landis is portrayed as stubbornly theatrical—constantly striking his desk for emphasis, never reconsidering decisions, robotically maintaining "grim determination" to appear authoritative. 3. **Institutional critique**: The author questions whether baseball's disciplinary system is genuine justice or mere "business"—suggesting Landis uses theatrical displays of morality (the "whitewash brush") to maintain public confidence while potentially overlooking actual misconduct. The piece suggests Landis prioritizes appearance and dramatic performance over substantive governance of professional baseball.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
JUDGE JUDGING he SARE by Mauro Gonzalez Landing Mr. Landis One day the color pig- ments at the roots of Judge Landis’ hair disappeared. The passing of time brought forth a bunch of snow-white hair. Thus came to life the Judge’s greatest personal as- set. He already possessed the bronze complexion of an Indian. I think the movies have missed a great character actor in Landis. He'd be a great help to Jackie Coogan and Charlie Chaplin. Im- agine what a knockout would result from Chaplin direct- ing the clowning abilities of Landis on the screen. His fiery map would put Buster on’s dead pan into the junk pile. I have yet to see a celebrity who can stay in character as persistently as Landis. He forever holds the same dogged expression of grim determination lest the photographers catch him out of “ch ” His de- cisions are unalter- able, and though it may be rational to change, he sticks to them with an unflinch- ing “I have said” or sar cannot retract’? or some other page one quotation. He's a wiry five feet seven who cannot avoid striking the desk at the end of a paragraph. Striking a desk makes noise. Never mind how much wisdom in one’s words. Above all, let’s be em- phatic! Thump! I now enter the sanctuous portals of the baseball com- mission in Chicago. Here be the shrine where the Judge spanks or exonerates the chestful players of the national sport. Here rests the big whitewash brush with which are sometimes cleansed the little boys who have been clumsy enough to be clouded in the smoke of suspicion. This business of arbiters all mighty makes one wonder whether it’s just that good “business.” It would be e: to make a sport look clean if tactless moves can emerge white purity of official sanction. The public is isfied if ever so often the Judge kicks up a rumpus about a little indiscretion and finishes up by saying (Continued on page 2+) comicbooks.com