The Wasp — 1890 — page 184: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This political cartoon critiques labor violence during a strike, likely related to San Francisco's maritime or industrial disputes of 1890. A policeman confronts a "Striking Molder" (a metalworker) who has just struck a defenseless man. The striker justifies his violence by claiming his status as a striking laborer gives him the "privilege to hit any one." The policeman's response—"What has that got to do with it?"—suggests the cartoon's point: strikers cannot claim immunity from law or assault charges simply because they're engaged in labor action. The satire criticizes violent strike tactics and the apparent attitude among some labor activists that their cause justified lawlessness. The caricatures use exaggerated features typical of period political comics to mock the striker's reasoning.