Life, 1910-04-28 · page 12 of 40
Life — April 28, 1910 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a satirical political cartoon about **J. P. Morgan** (the prominent banker, referred to as "King Pierpont"), presented as a monarch surveying his subordinates and subjects. The top illustration shows Morgan in regal dress gesturing over various caricatured figures—likely politicians and financiers—depicted as subservient courtiers. The satire mocks Morgan's immense wealth and influence over American politics and business during the early 1900s. The article references his recent travels, his control over financial markets ("Wall Street"), and his outsized power in shaping national affairs. The cartoons suggest Morgan operates like an absolute ruler rather than a private citizen, commanding politicians and controlling events like royal entertainments. This reflects widespread Progressive Era criticism of monopolistic power concentrated in wealthy industrialists.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
| Er a) sl a King Pierpont and His Subjects Universal Delight Expressed Everywhere at the New Regime ING PIERPONT is now on his triumphal journey around @ greeted everywhere as the greatest monarch known. From private advices we learn that he is not well pleased with all the adulation he is receiving le nature revolts,”’ he is reported to have said to one of his favorites, t this hon Mrs. Hetty Green has been placed temporarily in charge of the country during the absence of our beloved King. This shows more than anything else his broadness, Give the ladies a chance,” he has been d to say on numerous occasions. the world and is bei Tt is even AFTER WALL STREET SPECULATORS THE KING SAYS JAMES R. KEENE KNOWS THE GAME BETTER THAN ANY OTITER SUBJECT. GREETED EVERYWHERE rumored that the succession is likely to fall on a woman. A prominent nobleman, close to the throne, expressed him- self yesterday as follows: “ This great revolution in our affairs is one of the wonders of the world. King Pierpont was bound to own the entire country, anyway, even if we had kept on as a republic; but to think that, silently and harmoniously, he has thus been in- stalled as King shows better than anything else the supreme genius of the American people.” The King's return from his triumphal journey will be cele- brated with all the pomp and ceremony that this country can command, One thousand acroplanes have been engaged to form a continuous procession from Sandy Hook to the Stock Exchange. His Grace of Comstock is in charge of the floats, which will exceed in magnificence anything that Cleopatra attempted. All patriots are 4 urged to send in suggestions to amuse the royal mind dur- ing the festival week. Duke Hughes of (former Governor of New York under the old régime) is in charge of all the race tracks in the country, and it | is expected that the trotting and pacing events will be more wonderful than ever. It is well known that His Majesty, while not enthusiastically fond of the chase, is never- theless pleased to hunt occasionally. It is hoped that the High Lord of Oyster Bay, now in charge of the royal z00, will have an entertain- Albany MIS MAJESTY 18 VERY FOND OF PAINTING, comicbooks.com