Young, Art, 1866-1943

A priest stands at the pulpit in a cathedral, preaching from the “Holy Ledger.” Beneath his feet is a cut-away of an area labeled “Rentals” and revealing bags of money above the phrase, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” The bottom half of the image shows the squalor of poor families living in sections of the city identified as “Filth Lane, Tuberculosis Alley, Bacteria Court, Thug Corner, Squalor Street, [and] Fire Trap.”

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Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1909-01-06

This cartoon shows the interior of a galley where rows of children are manning the oars. The overseer, a large man, is labeled “Greed.” Hanging on the wall is a notice that states, “Child-labor Investigators, Sentimentalists, Charity Organizations, and all Meddling Old Women Keep Out.” Caption: “Dedicated to the states where child labor is still permitted.”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1909-08-04

Creator(s)

Young, Art, 1866-1943

A man labeled “Average voter” stands between two fields, trying to decide which one he should choose. On the left is the “Democratic Lot” showing “Bryan’s Financial Fallacies, Schemes, Dreams, [and] Instability”; “Opposition to a Sound Banking System”; “Inexperience”; “Obstructive Policies”; “Tariff Reform”; “Jefferson’s Ideals”; “Low Leaders [Thomas] Taggart, Fingy [William J. Connors], Hinky Dink [Michael Kenna]”; Anti-Everything”; “Sectionalism”; and “Croak and Kick Statesmanship.” On the right is the “Republican Lot” showing “Past Prosperity” and “Constructive Policies” among “Arrogant Rule [Joseph Cannon], Extravagance, Tariff Graft, Parasite Plutocracy, Special Privilege, Swollen Fortunes, Pension Graft, Foraker Type of Statesman, [and as a snake] Wall Street.” Caption: The Democratic lot – Better soil / The Republican lot – a more alluring field.

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1908-10-28

Criminals on the left enter a prison labeled “Penitentiary” with a statue of “Justice.” On the right, they leave the prison after serving their sentences and are given papers labeled “Freedom,” where they are confronted by a large hand above a city with a wall labeled “Ex-Convicts Not Wanted.” Includes text about the failure of the Penal System.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1909-10-20

Creator(s)

Young, Art, 1866-1943

On the left, money is being counterfeited and is labeled “Low-down and Illegal.” On the right, capitalists on “Wall Street” hold papers labeled “Watered Stock” and “Dividends.” Caption: What is the difference morally between making and circulating valueless paper in the guise of money, and making and circulating valueless paper in the form of securities? Both kinds of counterfeits get real money in exchange for fake; only, one kind gets a few hundreds of dollars, perhaps, and then goes to jail, while the other gets millions, maybe, and says: “Don’t! You’ll destroy confidence,” to anybody who ventures to criticise.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1910-09-28

Creator(s)

Young, Art, 1866-1943

A large group of Puck stock cartoon figures labeled “The Common People” stand in a wooded area, gathered around a statue of Abraham Lincoln. Caption: Lincoln — Are these the Common People I said God must have loved because He made so many of them?

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1910-01-05

Creator(s)

Young, Art, 1866-1943

A throng of petty criminals in a prison point to a small cell labeled “For the Incorporated Law Breaker,” insisting that white-collar crime goes unpunished. Caption: The cry of the small crook.

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1908-02-19

At bottom, in a dark and gloomy landscape, the police have imposed martial law conditions on the laboring class and punish violators with impunity, while at top, those responsible for the deplorable working and living conditions stand on a cloud labeled “Immunity,” above the law and the lawlessness.

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1907-10-02

In a boardroom, the appearance of a ghost labeled “Spirit of Honesty” has frightened the men conducting business, labeled “Corporation Lawyer, Fake Promoter, Secret Rebater [hiding under the table], Lobbyist, Public Service Grafter, Public Exploiter, Hypocrite, Employed Perjurer, Speculating Trust Co, [and the] Yellow Dog Keeper.” Also shown are the “Yellow Dog” and several sheets of “Watered Stock.” Hanging on the wall is a sign that states “Dont Knock – Boost.”

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1907-11-27

On the left, a woman walks on a street in the “Red Light District.” A policeman stands on the corner watching her. On the right, several men sit in chairs in front of place-markers on the wall that describe each person: “Orator and Politician. Will sell myself to the highest bidder,” “Editorial Writer. Views that I don’t believe in. For sale,” “College Professor. Education directed to please those who have the money,” “Cartoonist for sale to any party (Depending on the price),” “Minister. Sermons to please those who pay the pew rent,” and a “Law[yer].” Caption: Which is the greater evil – the woman of the streets or these mental prostitutes?

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1911-12-20

Creator(s)

Young, Art, 1866-1943

A large ghoul, wearing a dark shroud labeled “Necessity” and holding a whip, leads a small child out of a home where an unemployed parent is slumped over a table in the background. Over the door is a sign that reads “Lead Kindly Light,” and outside the doorway, two children are walking toward a factory and a sign that states “Machinery Operated by Children – Men Need Not Apply.” Caption: From the cradle to the mill.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1912-04-10

Creator(s)

Young, Art, 1866-1943

Vignettes show scenes titled “According to Scripture” followed by quotes from the bible. At the bottom of each scene is the title “As Practiced” which is followed by a statement or a list that is contrary to scripture. For example: “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth” shows a man standing in a parlor holding the Bible in one hand and a list of treasures labeled “Laid Up for a Rainy Day” which includes “Bonds, Mortgages, Interest, Jewels, Stocks, Real Estate, Automobiles, Horses, Yachts, Clothes, Houses, [and] Land.” “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy” shows a man reading a letter and saying, “Aha, we’ve got Small, Green and Co. where we want ’em at last, and now, by thunder, we’ll put the screws on ’em!”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1911-03-15

Creator(s)

Young, Art, 1866-1943