Life, 1909-04-15 · page 15 of 36
Life — April 15, 1909 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two distinct satirical pieces targeting early 1900s American politics and social hypocrisy. **"Newspaper Men Are Cheap in Alabama"** mocks the favoritism shown to the Alabama Governor's sons, who received minimal punishment (one fined $15, one discharged) after assaulting a newspaper editor. The piece sarcastically contrasts this with more powerful newspaper publishers—Pulitzer, Laffan, and Delevan Smith—whose influence has cost the President's political allies far more through their reporting, yet they remain unpunished. The satire highlights class-based justice and political corruption. **"The Sesame"** depicts a drunk man repeatedly approaching a night officer asking where to find alcohol in a temperance town. The caption "IS TALK CHEAP?" suggests the joke: the man keeps talking/asking rather than directly offering a bribe—implying that in corrupt systems, a monetary offer ("talk") gets results. Both pieces critique government corruption, selective law enforcement, and moral hypocrisy of the era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
*LIFE* to commit themselves to paper can recive the benefit of our experience. These consultations are slightly higher in price than our ordinary ¢ but they are well worth the money. For example, read the following voluntary testimonial just re- ceived: “How can I thank you enough. I married a lady with money, but I could not persuade her that I was the one to manage it for her. She was very shy about it, and in i of all I could do, I couldn't get a cent out of her. Last wee consultation in your private office did the business, as you toknow. Ienclose check. Please send the acknowl- ment care Maxim’s, Paris. I am running over for « few weeks’ much needed rest. My wife has gone to an aunt's in the country. With great respect, me ote Send for our stiding scale of consultations, Corgesroxpencr Scoot ror Husuanps. Newspaper Men Are Cheap in Alabama HE two sons of the Governor of Alabama have licked an editor. Naughty! Naughty! One was fined $15; the other was discharged. Messrs. Pulitzer, Laffan and Delevan Smith have cost our President's friends much more than that, and they are not licked yet. The Sesame T is 2 o'clock in the morning, and in a temperance town at that. A belated individual approaches the faithful officer, who is trudging his beat, and asks confidentially: “WE WAS A BULLY PRESIDENT!” “Could you tell me where I can get a drink at this time of night? "" “No, sir!’ says the officer, rebukingly. The belated individual goes on his way, but at the next corner he has a new idea, so he returns to the faithful officer and inquires confidentially “Could you tell me where se can get a drink at this time of night?” “IS TALK CHEAP?” comicbooks.com