Life — June 15, 1922 — page 17: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon depicts a courtroom scene criticizing judicial overreach in labor matters. A judge presides while a working-class man (likely representing organized labor or a union member) stands before the bench. The figure appears menacing or predatory, suggesting the cartoon critiques how courts wielded power against laborers. The quotes frame the satire: William Pitt's warning about tyranny without law contrasts with Samuel Gompers' (real AFL leader) principle that law shouldn't restrict labor rights. The cartoon suggests courts were operating "above the law"—using judicial authority to suppress labor organizing rather than protecting workers' legal rights. This reflects early 20th-century tensions when American courts frequently issued injunctions against strikes and union activities, effectively blocking workers' organizing efforts through legal mechanisms.