Life — August 28, 1902 — page 5: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Walking the Plank: A Revival of the Good Old Days" This political cartoon depicts various corporate interests—labeled "Steel Trust," "Beef Trust," and "Copper Trust"—being forced to walk the plank from a ship flying the "Death to Competition" flag. The cartoon satirizes trust-busting efforts, likely from the early 1900s progressive era when antitrust actions targeted major monopolies. The cartoon's caption suggests nostalgia for piracy's "good old days," implying that these modern trusts operate like ruthless pirates exploiting commerce. The drowning figures and sharks below represent the dangers these monopolies faced from regulatory action. The satire supports trust-busting by portraying monopolies as villains deserving punishment, aligning with populist and progressive sentiment against concentrated corporate power.