Life, 1907-02-21 · page 17 of 36
Life — February 21, 1907 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes prominent figures and institutions of the early 1900s. The main cartoon, "Truths in Request," mocks a "bull market" in truth-telling by listing popular questions Americans obsessively debate: whether railroad magnates like Harriman, Rogers, and Frick harm prosperity; whether District Attorney Jerome pressured a Grand Jury; and whether the Interstate Commerce Commission or railroads pose greater danger. The "Unpreventable" cartoon jokes that Americans pray prosperity will stop—they have "all they can stand"—but St. Peter notes the Dingley Tariff (protective trade policy) prevents divine intervention. Other brief satirical pieces mock: millionaires hiding illness behind euphemisms like "investigation committee"; the theatrical trust's litigation claims; and wealthy homeowners' casual overspending on construction. The cartoons criticize wealthy industrialists, protective tariffs, and the era's litigious business culture while mocking public obsession with scandals.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“LUPE Two Lies from the Organ of the Theatrical Trust IE Number O: Metcalfe “It will be recalled that when the ¢ reached a position of prominence dire things were expected to happen to the men who were held UP AGAINST IT Truths in Request HERE is a bull market on for Truth. The demand for it is large and active, and the supply of first quality is as limited as usual. Mixed lots, in which truth, rumor, inyention and falsehood are inter- mingled, find a ready market for immediate use where keeping qual- ities cut no figure. Some special lines for which the demand is particularly active are indicated as follows: . How bad is Harriman? Is he worse than Henry H. Rogers? Is Frick a help or a hindrance to American prosperity? Which is more dangerous, Harriman, Frick, Rogers, Arthur Bris- bane, Bryan or Caruso? Why? How good is James J. Hill? Will any stock-brokers be saved? Did Jerome bullyrag the Grand Jury into indicting Per- kins and Fairchild? Why? Which is likely to hurt us worse, the railroads or the Interstate Commerce Commission ? How soon will the railroad-rates law ke repealed ? The Unpreventable HEY were going over the morning’s mail. “Here,” said the confidential secretary, ‘‘are one mil- lion five hundred thousand additional prayers from Americans, asking that no more prosperity be sent them; they’ve got all they can stand.” St. Peter looked worried. “Those Americans,” he exclaimed, ‘are an unreasonable lot. How can we do anything in the matter, as long as they keep the Dingley Tariff in force? However, you may hand the prayers to the Recording Angel, and have them entered on the books, as a matter of form.” for conspiracy by Magistrate Poole. ‘The end of that case resulted in a complete vin- dication of all the managers.”” The end of that case was not a com- plete vindication, one reason being that the case has not yet reached its end. The case is shortly to be argued in the Court of Appeals. Lr Nusper Two—Another thing worth remembering is that Klaw langer have been in numerous litigations and have never lost a case.”” How about the libel suit for $100,000 which Messrs. Klawand Erlanger brought against Lire? It is on record that they were beaten first before a jury and finally and decisively on their appeal to a court of last resort. Modern Ailment IRST MILLIONAIRE: You were laid up in your house all last week, weren’t you? Srconp MILLionarre: Yes. “Sicknessor investigation committee 2” Ir DOES no good to call a hog a hog, but if you pat him on the back and call him a gentleman, it may shame him into something better. Where Time Is Valuable ODD: Do you mean to say your house cost you $2,000 more than you expected? Topp: Yes. I put it off two weeks longer than I expected. ~ Comicbooks.com