Life — April 26, 1906 — page 6: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Political Commentary on Maxim Gorky, April 28, 1906 This page discusses Russian revolutionary Maxim Gorky's visit to America. The text reveals controversy: Gorky came seeking funds to support Russian revolution, but American donors withdrew support after learning he was living with a woman who wasn't his wife—a major scandal in 1906. The cartoon (upper left) appears to caricature Gorky, likely mocking this domestic situation. The text names prominent Americans on a committee supposedly backing him, including Mark Twain and Jane Addams, suggesting they faced embarrassment. The satire critiques American hypocrisy: wealthy patrons eager to fund Russian revolution but scandalized by Gorky's personal life, ultimately prioritizing moral propriety over political support. The piece questions whether such "revolutionaries" deserve backing.