The subversive adventures of Mr. Block
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Mr. Block is a comic from the early 1900s following someone that might seem eerily familiar, named Mr. Block. This comic was created by Ernest Riebe for the still running International Worker, a newspaper published by the Industrial Workers of the World. The IWW is an international syndicalist union who believe workers run the world. They have existed since 1909, with famous organizers like Mother Jones as founding members. While this community is focused on Mr. Block, all IWW comics are welcome!
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Transcript:
Introductory
By Walker C. Smith
This pamphlet may enable the readers to see their reflection on a printed page without the aid of glass or quicksilver. Right off the reel we wish to state that these cartoons that please you are portraits of the other fellow, while the ones that arouse your ire are exactly as though you had looked in a mirror. Knowing that Capitalism is builded on Blocks, the Cartoonist thought to weaken the foundation by joking some knowledge into those Blocks which have been split open a trifle in the College of Hard Knocks. Mr. Block appeared- and his success was instantaneous.
Mr. Block is legion. He is the representative of that host of slaves who think in terms of their masters. Mr. Block owns nothing, yet he speaks from the standpoint of a millionaire; he is patriotic without patrimony; he is a law-abiding outlaw; he boasts of our "tremendous wheat exports," yet has no bread on his table; he licks the hand that smites him and kisses the boot that kicks him; he is a personification of all that a worker should not be.
But Mr. Block is part of the labor problem. In fact, were it not for innumerable Mr. Blocks there would be no labor problem. Mr. Block blocks the pathway of progress. Yet it is from the Blocks that we must recruit our forces to overthrow wage slavery, and this can be done only by reaching Mr. Block with the message of industrial unionism.
As this is an age in which pictures play a leading part, an age where the moving picture show has stolen the audiences of the church and where the magazine without illustrations has fallen by the wayside, this little book of cartoons, showing the every-day experiences of Mr. Block- the average worker is sent out to catch the eye and mould the mind of any Block into whose hands it might fall.
The most of the cartoons in this book were originally published in the Industrial Worker of Spokane, Washington, from week to week. The series is still running and tens of thousands of workers eagerly watch the adventures of Mr. Block each week. This book is sent out to put the series in more permanent form.
The Cartoonist has pictured the grim humor that underlies the tragedy of the great class war and if these sketches serve to cause only a few desertions from the ranks of Block army that guards for the masters the very wealth that has been stolen from it, then the publication of the book will not have been in vain.
To those rebellious spirits who are marching steadfastly toward Industrial Freedom, making war on Blockism and fighting battles of the working class, this book is respectfully dedicated.
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Transcript:
Panel 1:
Mr Block is reading an advertisement in the daily paper
Ad: Men wanted. Good wages. Apply in office of this paper.
Mr Block: At last! Here's a job for me, I'll go after it!
Panel 2:
Mr Block sprinting to the office: It's no use kicking about in hard times. A man can get a job if he goes after it.
Panel 3:
Mr Block imagining scenes of violent thoughts as the office worker talks
Office worker: Position just filled.
Panel 4:
Wobbly offering Mr Block a copy of the Industrial Worker: Stung again, heh? Didn't you know that capitalist papers are printing blind ads in order to get the last penny from the unemployed? Here's a paper that'll put you wise to the game!
Panel 5:
Hundreds of blockheads reading the Industrial Worker as the Wobbly walks away
Wobbly: You see, the number of blocks run into the thousands and it pays to advertise.
Panel 6:
Mr Block being beaten by a cop: Officer please! I am a peaceable citizen!
Cop just doing his duty: Shut up! you fellers have to move on, you're block(he)ading the street!
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This is part 3 to Mr. Block goes to the Dakota Harvest; part 1, part 2
Transcript:
Panels 1-4:
Stranger: Mr Block, you are the best worker of all the harvest hands. I know you are a patriot and I like you. I am the owner of this farm and I will make you manager. Your salary will be $500 per month. The job is easy. Take your pocket flag and when you see a harvest hand on the point of exhaustion, wave the flag before his eyes and appeal to his patriotism so he keeps on working. You can also use the flag at mealtime and make the men swallow the rotten grub without grumbling.
Panel 5:
Mr Block: I have been a Patriot all my life and I knew I would get my reward some day!
Farm Owner: You deserve it. Good bye Mr Block.
Panel 6:
Insane asylum employee: Did you see crazy Chris? He imagines he owns all the farms between the Atlantic and the Pacific.
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Transcript:
Panel 1:
Mr. Block: Some knocker told me that a poor man hasn't a chance in the courts against the rich man. It's a lie! There is justice before the law under the American flag and-
Panel 2:
Mr. Block severely injured in a hit-and-run: Outch! I will sue you for damages!
Panel 3:
Lawyer: All kinds of bones broken and internal injuries besides. Fine! That makes a nice case.
Mr. Block: I will get justice alright.
Panel 4:
Lawyer 2 years later: The case is decided in your favor Mr. Block.
Mr. Block: Hurray for justice
Panel 5:
Lawyer: 100 dollar damages. My fee is 95. Leaves you 5 Mr. Block
Panel 6-7:
Mr. Block stares in contempt at the settlement
Mr. Block angrily looks at the US flag on his shoulder, as patriotism vents from his blockhead
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This is part 2 to Mr. Block goes to the Dakota Harvest; part 1, part 3
Transcript:
Panel 1:
Mr. Block: At last I am through! Sixteen hours a day harvesting is too much.
Panel 2:
Mr. Block: Boss, I am tired and would like to go to sleep right away. Where's my bed?
Boss: Beds for harvest blocks!? Are you crazy?! You'll have to find a flop on the prairie.
Panel 3:
Mr. Block: That ain't right! Nice stables for the stock and I have to sleep outside in the damp. I'll find me a place in the stables.
Panel 4:
stable hand chasing Mr. Block out, throwing pitchfork: Get out you bum! You can't sleep here
Mr. Block: Excuse me, mr stable boss
Panel 5:
Mr. Block: I am not an I.W.W. but I dare say- this ain't right.
Panel 6:
Mr. Block sleeping in a field, happily dreaming about being a pig asleep in a stable
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transcript:
Panel 1:
Mr. Block burning a copy of the International Worker: This anarchist paper from Spokane is the limit. It says a working man can't get rich by saving his money. T'aint so.
Panel 2:
Mr. Block reading a different paper: Here's a respectable paper. It says everyone can be successful if he only makes up his mind. That's the dope.
Panel 3:
Mr. Block: There's success staring me right in the face. I am going to invest my savings at once.
Panel 4:
Investor: Thank you, Mr. Block
Mr. Block: it took me ten years of hard labor to save it.
Panel 5:
Mr. Block: The ambition of my life will soon be realized. I will be rich and won't have to work anymore. I will build a nice house and enjoy life. Hurrah!
Panel 6:
The investment company explodes
Investor flying away in an airship: Meet me in Monte Carlo.
Mr. Block: Busted!
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Transcript:
Panel 1:
Workers: I can do more work than anyone in this gang. Hurry up! I can beat you!
Boss: It's a nice bunch of suckers. I think they will stand for a reduction in wages, alright.
Panel 2:
Boss: I am awful sorry boys, but business is slack. I have to cut your wages.
Workers: Alright boss. Too bad.
Panel 3:
the IWW bugs bite the workers
IWW Bugs: Don't submit! Bum pay, bum work! Organize. Use sabotage. Take it easy.
Panel 4:
IWW bugs flying away: If you fellows unite, you can abolish exploitation all together.
Workers performing work to rule: That's about enough for one load. Short pay, short shovel.
Panel 5:
Boss: Gee! What am I going to do. The whole country is going IWW bugs. Instead of cutting wages, I have to raise them.
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Transcription:
Panel 1:
Mr. Block: I won't work for two dollars a day. Them Eastern news papers said that the wages here in Dakota is six dollars.
Boss: If you don't take a job at once I'll land you in the rockpile for seven months.
Panel 2-4:
Mr Block: What else could I do, I had to take the job. Two dollars ain't much but there's one consolation about this. I am told they got the eight hour day here in Dakota. I am almost played out. I started at four in the morning and it's nearly twelve now. It's a good thing that I have the whole afternoon for resting up.
Panel 5:
Boss: It's dinner time, get your sowbelly and hurry back to work!
Mr. Block: I thought you had an eight hour work day here in Dakota.
Panel 6:
Boss: Eight hour day, that's correct.. Eight in the forenoon and eight in the afternoon.
