Life, 1894-07-12 · page 9 of 20
Life — July 12, 1894 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 25 This page satirizes labor union activism, specifically targeting railroad union strikes. The main text mocks a "Walking Delegate" (union organizer) for calling strikes that inconvenience the public while claiming to represent workers' interests. The author argues the delegate assumes too much authority and suggests his actions are anarchistic. The cartoon at bottom-left depicts a domestic scene where a man reads while a woman works, captioned with dialogue about arithmetic and voting—apparently satirizing working-class illiteracy. The illustration at top-right labeled "A Problem Solved" shows a woman, likely referencing gender politics or women's roles during this labor-dispute era. The brief jokes below address unrelated topics: a "ladykiller," water quality, and beer sales by city officials—typical satirical filler of the period.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
- LIFE: your vote, but you know that in fact, you have as much to say about it as a Russian peasant about the emperor's breakfast.” ““Who does then?” “ That tyranny you have created for yourself and which is embodied in the Walking Delegate, or whatever you call him.” “ He acts only in our interest.” “Sometimes. But as he represents a mighty cause so also he wields a mighty power for which you do not make him sufficiently responsible. As a rule he is an ignor- ant and lazy individual not so good a workman as yourself and who fears he will not seem to you to earn his pay unless he keeps you in constant hot water. In the present case what are you to gain if the strike succeeds ? You have gone out without a grievance. You have caused unlimited annoyance to a lot of people who don’t know any more about the causes of this strike than you do yourself.” “But Ido know. We want to show Pullman and the others that when members of the American Railway Union ask for anything they are going to get it, if we have to tie up every railway in the country.” “In other words, you are simply anarchists. You are not going to let other property owners enjoy their property or the public at large enjoy the convenience of modern invention simply because some Illinois laborer doesn’t receive as much pay as he thinks he deserves.” “ That's about it.” “ Well, Mr. American Railway Unionist, take LIFE’s word for one thing. You have assumed a bigger contract than you are able to carry out. The Pullman men's cause may be thrice just—which we understand is decidedly not so—but there are too many American citizens who do not belong to your order to be held up by the throat in any A PROBLEM SOLVED, HACOB, VAT VAS IT YOU STUDY ?"” hs ADING, WRIDING AND 'RITHMETI “CAN YOU TELL ME VOT VAS TWO AND TWO?” “Six! No, Dat Is NOT RIGHT.” “T KNOW; BUT I WAS AFRAID YOU WOULD BEAT ME DOWN.” such manner as you have adopted. LIFEe’s sincere advice to you is to take your walking delegates, or whatever you may call the men who have got you into the present mess, and con- vey them into some quiet spot where their cries will not be heard when you give them the booting they deserve for having caused you to make an ass of yourself.” Metcalfe. THE FOUNDATION FOR IT. FAnninc: Great Scott! You a ladykiller! MANNING: Yes. Why, a lady on the street ran up to-day, kissed me, and then cried be- cause I was not her husband. MIGHT HURT BUSINESS. TRANGER: Why don't your city officials supply you with better water ? RESIDENT (afologetically) : Well, you see most of them sell beer.