Life, 1906-03-15 · page 19 of 38
Life — March 15, 1906 — page 19: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The top cartoon satirizes capitalist influence on government. A caption quotes someone claiming "capitalists are the backbone of the nation," while the visual shows well-dressed businessmen lounging comfortably while politicians and officials stand around them deferentially—suggesting capitalists control the nation's political apparatus rather than serving it. Below are three editorial sections responding to reader letters. One defends missionary work against accusations it's imperialistic. Another praises the novel *The House of Mirth* for its moral insights. The third, titled "Power," addresses concerns about whether the federal government has sufficient authority to advance national destiny independent of wealthy interests' influence. The page reflects Progressive Era anxieties (likely 1900s-1910s) about corporate power dominating democratic institutions and whether elected leaders could act in the public interest against entrenched financial interests.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“PROFLE CAN TALK ALL THEY “SURE THING. The Coquette. F she had only smiled at me Much hope would | have taken, Her eyes alone—they laughed at me— That's why my faith was shaken, EAR LIFE: ly worthy of you, or worth . constantly to sneer at mis: > Some of your most and it is Have thereby; y please any on that many of | the © the awakening of that Ki of the an attriby istianity? and ip has long this caus tion the world over is chie missionary labors? There are worthy attention. wide influence; not wide enough to destroy this work of Christian extension, 1 pair it and ignorant people Lire almost since its beginning cs it very highly, beg that you will care- and benef of your to im. ughtless May a subscriber to and who Pp fully consider whether any good cent end is served enterprise into which good men and women your tone toward an WANT THAT'S WHY THE NATION HAS SPINAL Y a ] T TO, WUE L JUST TRLL YOU THES: FINANCITIS,” Wasntxcrox, D. Lier sincerely regrets that his views cn the missionary question should differ so radically from those of his en had we no doubts and all correspondent, I of our religion other right religions of our wisdom greater, our morals higher and lives purer than those of anybody else then we should consider the missionary an impertinence. This is not said in willful opposition to our correspondent, hut humbly, as a con being false our even fession D' AR LUFE The House of Mirth,” a story de- nent, honest love and com urely no one can come away f the book without a height ion of the beauty and value of Even your critic, apostle of the obvious though he be + to have f the essential qualities of Jerstood by attributes achieved so much Sincerely yours, Benjamin Howard. Arbata, CAPITALISTS ARE THE KACKHONE OF THE NATION.” Power. OREIG to Bryce, great patronage lodges with t these United S but after ‘om De Tocqueville en struck with the Federal > President of I it is enough indeed. with all our ided sufficient fices 10 enable the have the power which ates, a serions question if there of this, Have we fancied sceurity. pr fourth-class post President always to make our destiny appear to Senators with such clarity as shall clinch the fulfillment of the same, regardless of the attitude of vested interests? Well, we In the prese house of © all soon see emergency the lower s, effacing itself, ask- ing no reward but pork and per diem, franks and and the con- sciousness of duty done. has passed the epochal bills, leaving the patronage substantially intact. The ecutive knocks at the door of the enate, figuratively speaking. with his resources all unspent. If he cannot ngre free seeds. three great prevail now, then never. A™ ELY rescue—getting a watch out of pawn. comicbooks.com