Life, 1903-12-03 · page 8 of 22
Life — December 3, 1903 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains political satire criticizing government corruption and inequity. The "Politics" section mockingly lists the actual duties of U.S. government branches—exposing how they've been corrupted. For example, the Senate's duties are sarcastically listed as "buy and sell stocks" and "conduct a general brokerage business," while Congress "doubles the pension list" and draws salaries. The Standard Oil Company is listed as a co-equal governmental branch, suggesting corporate control of politics. The "In South Carolina" dialogue satirizes racial violence and judicial corruption, with white citizens openly discussing lynching while authorities do nothing. The illustration and poem "O Would Some Power" by Wallace Irwin critique American imperialism and social inequality, contrasting American claims of moral superiority with actual brutality toward marginalized groups domestically and abroad.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
«LIFE - Our Country. Pourtics. 7 HO was the United States Government founded by? Mark Hanna, John D. Rockefeller and Tom Platt. What is it called? A Republic by some—by others, a political syndicate. Who is at its head? ‘The President. What are the duties of the President? To send messages to Congress, ride horseback and hunt bears. Are there any other branches of the Government? If 80, name them. The Senate, the Honse of Representatives, the Standard Oil Company and the New York Stock Exchange. What aro the duties of the Senate? To buy and sell stocks, bring on wars when the Presi- dent hesitates, play poker, and conduct a general brokerago business. What are the duties of Congress? To double the pension list, fill up the Congressional Record, and draw salaries. © Would Some Power. What are the duties of the Standard Oil Company? HY do we long for saintly work Elect the President and declare dividends. Against the heathenizing Turk, What are the duties of the Stock Exchange? Ay horbuteliers-on theses ma plan To keep the country stirred up in time of peace, unsettle The Christian Mace-don-i-an, CALVES AMONG THE APPLES. When here at home the lynchers make n a Where some poor black, to glut their ire, Must roast and sizzle in the fire ; Or when, midst desolated scenes Upon the tropic Philiy The he ‘The Yankee soldier's water cure? The cynic-hearted “ Powers” th Compare us with the Turk and su O would some ** Power” the giftie gie us To sce ourselves as others see us! Wallace Irwin, In South Carolina. JOIRST WHITE CITIZ You ~*~ weren't at the lynching and baruing yesterday. Seconp Wire Citize: No, hang it! You know that fellow I shot? Well, I had to stay at the Courthouse nearly all day to get acquitted. TF wo told everything, ~ there could be neither love nor friendship, T is only unsatisfied love The Wife? Tux MINISTER TOLD ME TO TELL YOU HE THOUGHT IT WAS YOUR DUTY TO Go To CHURCH EVERY SUNDAY. that is eternal. ule: WELL, TELL MIM 1 THINK IT 18 M18 DUTY To EARN M113 LIVING ON WEEK DAYS. comicbooks.com