Life, 1919-12-25 · page 26 of 37
Life — December 25, 1919 — page 26: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes labor radicals and anti-capitalist thought circa the 1920s. A disheveled man is arrested for "drunk and disorderly conduct," but a judge discovers he was merely *thinking about labor philosophy*—specifically questioning whether labor deserves board representation if capital stockholders do. The cartoon's title, "The Marionette," shows the man as a puppet controlled by unseen forces. The judge dismisses him as "guilty of anachronism"—a person with outdated radical ideas—while the accompanying dialogue mocks a government investigation that spent $87,987 investigating $10,000 in illegal spending, celebrating this as "great work." The satire targets both labor activists (portrayed as dangerous subversives) and government inefficiency/corruption. The reference to "Bolshevik" reflects post-WWI American anxieties about communist infiltration. The cartoon presents radical thought itself as criminally absurd rather than engaging with its actual arguments.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
1076 Hic Labor, Hoc Opus Est HAT is the prisoner charged with?” asked the Cadi, casting a wary eye over the party in question whose unkempt appear- ance left no doubt of his guilt in the mind of any unprejudiced person present ‘ “Drunk and disorderly,” chanted the cus- todian of the public safety respectfully. “What was he doing?” inquired the magis- trate. . ttin’ on the curb, and claimed he was thinkin’, yer Honor.” “Has he been searched hurriedly. “Sure, yer Honor. was a paper with on it.” The Cadi took the paper and ‘read to himself:- “If Labor is’ not‘a com-. asked the Cadi All we found various writings “OH, NO, 'M NOT A ROLSHEVIK—BUT I HAVE A NUMBER OF THEM ON #0 MY List” “The poor fellow * is banker,” mitrmured’ the Cadi,’ glancing insane is these men,” he added, turning to the reporters and slipping the paper into THE MARIONETTE vjustified ? over: his spectacles, kindly. {He con tinued to read: {If Laborvis repte- sented on ‘the Board of’ ,Directots, should {not family men who-hold stock . * be represented in the! Couritils of La- bor?” ™ e ; “ He must Rave bech' verytrich ortce,” whispered the Cadi. He repil Clayton law fnake’ exclusive axetities illegal, how i§ the closed shop {9 be If the ‘Steel ‘Trust ‘is a monopoly, what is the A“B?of LZ” “Who are ‘you?”? dentanded” the Cadi sharply. “I'm a Consumer, Judge,” replied the Object in a low voice. “Ghilty of Anachronism!” thun- derel the Cadi. “Take him away! It his inside pocket, “ who do not under- stand our constitute the greatest menace to the Republic to-day.” Usually ILLIS: Was the into the city’s finances a success “Gittis:> Yes, indeed. The commit- tee discoyered that almost ten thou- American institutions that investigation A8and dollars had been spent illegally. Wits: Great work. “Sure was. We felt that the eighty- thousand nine hundred and eightyseven dollars that the commit- tee’s expenses amounted to was well spent.” seven comicbooks.core