Life, 1911-02-23 · page 12 of 44
Life — February 23, 1911 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The top cartoon depicts two well-dressed gentlemen labeled "Supervising Our Government," satirizing wealthy businessmen's influence over government policy—likely referencing J.P. Morgan and John D. Rockefeller, who were prominent financiers of the era. The page discusses "Boy Grafters," an organization promoting moral character in youth. The bottom illustration, titled "Dyspeptic Patient," shows a doctor with a patient, captioned about medicine before meals. This appears to be unrelated satirical humor rather than political commentary. The overall piece critiques wealthy businessmen's outsized control over government while ironically promoting boy character-building—suggesting the wealthy elite should model ethics for youth, despite their own questionable practices. The contrast highlights Progressive Era concerns about corporate influence and moral corruption.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“ SUPERVISING OUR GOVERNMENT.” is a magnificent thing to have Mr. Ryan at its head.” Mr. Ryan has issued the following manifesto for the guidance of boy graft- ers throughout the country “Your motto shall be, King.” Every boy grafter shall salute every national bank that he passes, as being the embodiment of civic virtue and a monument to the sacred rights of prop- erty. “ Boy grafters shall defend their prin- ciples to the death. Any coward will be excommunicated and notice given to all capitalists that he shall not be permitted to earn a living. “Every boy grafter shall be strictly honest and temperate. His word shall ever be as good as his bond. He shall be punctual in his engagements, attend church regularly, and outwardly conform to the law in everything. “ Boy grafters shall meet at least once a week, where they are formed into local clubs, and discuss the higher principles of grafting. These shall consist of Pools, Deals, Combines, Government Guidance and the Uses of Statesmen.” The question now remains, as to who is to assist Mr. Ryan in this great work —who is, in reality, to do the practical part of it? It must be remembered that “Capital is oh EE « Mr. Morgan cannot well be spared from his present office of supervising our Gov- ernment. At almost any moment of the day and night he is likely to be con- sulted by the authorities at Washington, and, therefore, while the Boy Grafters are of the utmost importance to our fu- ture, he can in reality give only his oc- casional presence to the organization. This, however, will undoubtedly enable Mr. Ryan to put it where it belongs. Fortunately, we are not without pa- triots. Our eminent financiers have come forward in a body with offers of assistance. Mr. Carnegie has just notified us that he shall be glad to give a lecture soon on the principles of grafting. Mr. Rockefeller, while it is impossible for him, as already stated, to give up his time, will lend his aid, and his son, John D. Rockefeller, Jr., will talk to his Sunday school class about it in his in- imitable manner and get them interested. The papers have also promised to take up the matter and advertise it. They have been all the more ready to do this, as most of them are cither owned or con- trolled by those who are interested in this new movement. Mr. Morgan, of course, expressed great interest, and will be one of the numerous vice-presid He will also lend to the organization the prestige of his great_name—will, indeed, be the power behind the throne. Mr. James J Hill will lecture to the boys soon on how to build up a railroad to a one hundred million basis by borrowing five dollars from an intimate friend. The formation of the Boy Grafters will be by companies. Each company will be in charge of the most promising boy grafter in the neighborhood. All companics willbe limited to one hun- dred. Any American boy of promise may enter, but the children of the very poor are excluded, as it is believed that only those boys who have the advanta of good home training will make good boy grafters. Another reason is that the children of the very poor do not under- stand the difference between petty steal- ing—which is a menace to our institu- tions-—and the higher moral forms of grafting, under the sponsorship of the Government, which is practiced by our leading magnates. In the meantime, the gaining ground every day. We trust that our friends, the leading magazines, will notice it as soon as possible, in order to help along the good work. Form and Substance A CANDY man made ten millions, because he put up his candy, which wasn't a bit better than any other, in attractive boxes, Shakespeare rewrote the Holinshed Chronicles and called them plays. All women are alike, but with not quite the same outlines. erything has been said over and over again, but it’s the way it is said movement is Dyspeptic Patient: Goop HEAVENS! DocToR, WHAT HAVE You THERE? “YOUR MEDICINE, SIR, TO BE TAKEN BEFORE EACH MFAI..” comicbooks.com