Life — July 6, 1905 — page 12: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Life Magazine, July 6, 1905: Life Insurance Critique This page critiques life insurance industry practices, particularly agent commissions. The text argues that insurance should be affordable and accessible, but agents' high commissions make policies expensive for ordinary people. The article specifically attacks **Mr. Henry W. Bowen**, late U.S. Minister to Venezuela, for allegedly accepting bribes from an asphalt company while in office. It claims Secretary of State Francis B. Loomis showed "indiscretion" by hiring Bowen despite these charges. The President subsequently dismissed Bowen. The cartoons (featuring ducks and other figures) appear to illustrate the article's point about financial predation—likely depicting how agents or corrupt officials "hook" ordinary people into unfavorable deals. The satire targets both insurance industry practices and government corruption.