Life, 1908-04-30 · page 8 of 20
Life — April 30, 1908 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains a photograph labeled "NEARING THE ASIATIC COAST" showing beachgoers and swimmers near what appears to be a pier, with waves and distant ships visible. The text below discusses messages received at "this office" regarding whether someone named Taft can be "independent" of T.R. (Theodore Roosevelt). References to "Taft," "Comstock," and "Lillian Russell" suggest this concerns political independence—likely about President William Howard Taft's relationship to his predecessor Roosevelt. The satirical point appears to be questioning whether Taft could govern independently or remained subordinate to Roosevelt's influence. The beach photograph seems decorative rather than directly related to the political commentary, which was common in *Life* magazine's layout during the progressive era (approximately 1909-1913).
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
this office we re message : ed the following Taft wants to be independent of T. R. anged ? J.SM on receipt of this message, we wired Washington: Can Taft say his soul's his own? Must NEARING THE ASIATIC COAST be free and indepe! dent. Will you let him do as he pleases? Ans. To which the following reply was re- ceived: Let him go as far as he likes. that I am down and out. I realize TR. The greatest excitement immediately prevailed With Comstock on his way to Maxim’s and Taft able to do as he pleases, the stock market rapidly reacted and a boom was soon well under way. The following speeches were tele- graphed on: From Lillian Russell : It has long been well known that Dub Comstock’s ultimate ambition was the stage.