Judge, 1928-06-09 · page 24 of 36
Judge — June 9, 1928 — page 24: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This cartoon satirizes the American Labor Party's recruitment efforts, likely from the 1920s. A portly Labor Party representative (Mr. Aloysius P. Smileh) visits the magazine's editor to recruit him as their presidential candidate. The humor turns on the editor's deliberate misunderstanding: when asked his political affiliation, he claims to be a "Hashist" (a joking non-answer meaning "a little bit of everything"), playing on the word "hash." The Labor representative takes this seriously. The satire mocks the Labor Party as desperate and foolish for courting a magazine editor with no genuine political credentials. It also satirizes the editor's vanity—he fantasizes about becoming president through increasingly absurd scenarios (cowboy outfit, monument unveiling, congressional address). The page concludes mid-story, suggesting the editor will reject their offer. The overall point: the Labor Party's political ambitions are laughably naive and their candidates equally frivolous.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
JUDGE I Well, sir, this way it happened. in my suite at the Ritz, readi the “Your Broadway and Mir column in the Graphic, when the phone rang and a voice announced Mr. Aloysius P. Smileh. ‘Thinking hem is exactly the I was sitting ht be a movie maggot with a contract, I told them to send him up and when he appeared I beheld a portly gent covered with diamonds. He smiled in a large nd offered me a cigar, then g his throat, also in a large he boomed “You are Judge, None other,” I replied, turn- ing on my winning smile. 1,” he boomed again, “am the National Representative of the American Labor party !” “Oh, yeah?" [ said, somewhat disappoint “Well, Im for a party any time. When's this one to be?” soon.” hes with a nt wink, “May Task you a few questions ? signific oot! My life is an open you affiliated he inquired. “Well.” I admitted, “there is one party I'm pretty keen about, but for some with any strange reason she won't even give ine a tumble.” “TL mean a political party.” He smiled patiently. “Republican, Demoerat— “Oh.” 1 eried. “Pardon my dumbr No, I don't belong to al He looked at me in surpri “A Hashist! What is tha “Oh, a little bit of everything!" “Pat them they — spell I sang in a low voice. all together and mother!” Mr. Smileh smiled. “Tosee! Fine!’ He leaned closer, and spoke in a low voice. “L will now divulge the secret of my errand! Mr. Judge, Jr. the Labor party of America wants you to run as their candidate for the = | Presidency of the United States!" Just then a band struck up the a f Banner” and we up. As it ended Mr. Smilch grabbed my arm excitedly. “My boy! You have estab- lished a wonderful reputation for yourself! You have traveled all ver the United States in) your eroplane! You h n several times national © crossed the You are a figure! Against’ Smith and Hoover you will have a walk- away! What this country wants is youth!” routh thed i IT exelaimed, startled out of my ou Then the portent of his’ v struck ome! The the United States! In a sece my future flashed before me! I could see rakish cowboy outfit inspecting a ranch! What a picture 1 make onan electric horse! Or un- veiling a monument! I pictured myself sitting in a limousine rolling down Woodward Avenue dofing my high hat left right! I caught a vision of my self addressing Congress! My mother! She had always thought I would be President some day I looked up suddenly at) Mr. Smilch, He was standing tention and spoke stiffly. “Jud Jr. the Labor party awaits vou I winced. How [hated that word labor! [suddenly made up my mind, Mr. Smileh!” I stood up and looked him straight in’ the eye. “To do not ch to run—on a (Continued on page 29) President of myself ins a would comicbooks.com