Life, 1903-12-24 · page 13 of 20
Life — December 24, 1903 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The main cartoon depicts a bloated plutocrat standing on a pedestal labeled "THE TARIFF," wielding a sword and shield marked with dollar signs. The figure wears a "TRUST" sash and stands atop the U.S. Capitol building. A small soldier below appears dwarfed by this giant. **The Point:** This is anti-tariff and anti-monopoly satire. The cartoon criticizes how protective tariffs enabled wealthy industrialists and monopolistic trusts to grow enormously powerful at ordinary Americans' expense. The tariff acts as the plutocrat's pedestal and weapon—the policy that inflates his wealth and influence. **Historical Context:** This likely dates to the early 1900s, when Progressive Era critics attacked high tariffs as benefiting only the wealthy while raising consumer prices for everyone else. The "trust" imagery references contemporary anxiety about corporate monopolies. The inscription "TO BE ERECTED BY THE UNITED STATES SENATE" sarcastically suggests Congress itself built this monument to greed.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Sport. IDOWS are the best chauffenses,—If Le- pine, Prefect of Police, in Paris, However, with all due respect to M. Lepine, tho prudent sportswoman will think twice before she kills off her husband. Not more than one woman in a thousand looks thoroughly well in solid black, and not more than once in a thousand times is this one woman married to a man who is in shape, financially, to pass over. “This Rock Shane Foy From lve Fiam Base As Soon As I TO BE ERECTED BY THE UNITED STATES SENATE. Modern Song, NG a Song of Harlem, People on the L—, Four and twenty million Hanging on like H—. ‘When the train starts moving The straps begin to sing. Isn't it a funny sight To see them lurch and swing? D. 8. HEN a man celebrates his birth- day he takes a day off ; a woman, a year. GEE : How long have you had that dreadful dyspepsia? He: Ever since I have had enough money to enjoy myself. “V7 OMAN is a riddle; she keeps us guessing.’” “Yes, but we never give her up."”” [HERE is more joy in church over one millionaire that repenteth than over ninety and nine poor persons that need no repentance. comicbooks.com