“They Go Wild Over Me”

This IWW cartoon shows how Wobbly orators competed for the attention of the workers with local employment sharks. The employment sharks were the chief grievance of migrant workers who complained about the exorbitant fees they were forced to pay labor agents in return for a job (occasionally a job that did not exist). The exploitation of workers was worsened by the practice of fee-splitting between the agents and the company foreman. Ordinances banning public speaking on this subject were passed, and any Wobbly caught mounting a soapbox was promptly arrested, as shown in this cartoon.

Illustration from the IWW publication the Industrial Worker on February 12, 1910.

View the IWW exhibit for more information.