_PUCK, May 19th, 1886._
The labor struggle of 1886 was not far advanced before the agency of
the professional agitator became apparent--to those, at least, who
honestly tried to look below the surface of things. That the whole
fight was got up and kept up by these false friends of the laboring
man, and that they were the only gainers by the disorder of the time
is well known now. But it was not so well known then, and when this
cartoon was put forth it had all the interest that attaches to the bold
presentation of a truth for which the public is not prepared.
“The Suckers of the Working-man’s Sustenance” was published in PUCK of
May 19th, 1886. The three bearded men under the table have features
which more or less suggest those of certain professional agitators of
the hour--John Most, the editor of a dirty little paper that preached
blood-and-thunder anarchy, and a couple of other scamps of the same
sort.
[Illustration]