Life, 1907-08-29 · page 7 of 24
Life — August 29, 1907 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This political cartoon depicts an elderly man (likely representing Uncle Sam or American leadership) pouring money from a seemingly contaminated source. The exaggerated, grotesque caricature of the figure controlling the money spout suggests corruption or tainted influence in American politics or business. The caption warns that "it's tainted"—a reference to illegitimate or corrupted funds entering the American system. This appears to be satire about financial corruption, possibly related to monopolies, trusts, or foreign influence in early 20th-century America. The page also contains "The Old Secret Rebate," a poem critiquing business practices like illegal rebates and price-fixing that harmed fair competition—reflecting Progressive Era concerns about corporate malfeasance.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“LIFE: The Old Secret Rebate Hev dear to my heart are. my deals in finances, As investigation presents them to view, The trim little trust that my fortune enhances, And all the loved tricks that my industry knew} The pool and the place where my stock went to water, 1c freeze-out so cold where competitors fell, bulls and the bears and the lambs for the slaughter, And e’cn the rude rebate that worked them so well— The old secret rebate, The illegal rebate, The cash-bringing rebate That worked them so well. I squander my shekels in trust legislation, The courts and inspectors I recklessly buy. By gifts philanthropic I gain approbation, And cling to my grabs though the prices are high. Immunity certain, I publish my story, And gaily continue the public to sell; But I drop a sad tear for the days of my glory, And the dust-throwing rebate that worked them so well— he old secret rebate, Phe illegal rebate, The eash-bringing rebate, That worked them so well. Jessie Wallace Hughan. The Peacemakers WHEN Air, Joseph H. Choate reminds the Hague Con- ference that they have done much to regulate war, but little to prevent it, he is shirt-sleeve to a de, Tt might with cqual force be pointed out that medicine does a good deal more to regulate disease than to prevent it. Ideals, as we all should know, are to aim at, not to attain, for the moment they are attained, aiming at them is made an end of. The medicine which should prevent disease altogether would be accounted foolish as the man in the fable who lopped off the branch with himself at the outer end, and in a similar situation is the business of peace-conferencing. It isa quiet, respectable busi ness, the last business in the world. perhaps, to go deliberately to work to destroy its own raison d'étre. R. B. Who Would Make the Worst President— and Why > $50 in Cash Will Be Given for the Cleverest Answer to the Above Question N° 'SWER should exceed 200 words. Each contestant may send in as many answers as he or will publish, as soon as possible, after they are received, nswers which in the opinion of the Editors are worthy of All answers must be received on or before September 16th, 1907; nswer which in the judgment of the Editors is the best will be awarded the prize. All manuscripts must be typewritten on one side of paper. The contestant’s name and address should be plainly written on each manuscript. All manuscripts should be addressed to the Contest Editor of LIFE, 17 West 31st St., New York. LOOK OUT, UNCLE! THEY SAY 11'S TAINTED Manuscripts should be accompanied by a stamped and ad- dressed envelope, in case the author desires their return. comicbooks.com