Life, 1911-05-11 · page 25 of 44
Life — May 11, 1911 — page 25: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a satirical article from Life magazine attacking **political and corporate corruption** under Republican leadership. The text uses mock-earnest language to describe "graft" (bribes and embezzlement) as if it were a legitimate industry, ironically praising it as a "national necessity" that employs many workers. The article references specific historical figures associated with corruption scandals: - **"Tweed graft"** refers to Boss Tweed's notorious NYC machine corruption - **Ryan, Jerome, and Morgan** likely reference wealthy industrialists/politicians implicated in graft schemes The top illustration shows an early airplane, titled "The Summit of the Matterhorn"—a visual pun suggesting corruption has reached new heights. The bottom cartoon depicts a woman confronting a man about being a "vivisector" (someone who dissects living creatures), likely a satirical jab at those who profit from exploiting others. The overall message: corruption is so embedded in American society (especially under Republicans) that it's passed down generationally and normalized, treated as respectable business practice.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Gralt GCG’ is a recent product. Composed of a number of diticrent clements, it was not discovered in its: present form until about ten years ago, when it was properly chris- tened under the auspices of the Standard Oil Company and launched by the press. It is now, however, well established and recognized as a national necessity. Graft is mined in large cities, the supply, strange to say. constantly increasing in spite of the demands made upon it Efforts to obtain it in the remote country districts, however. have not resulted in absolute failure. Its manufacture is not confined to any one class of citizens, but all Iend a hand, from the kumble plumber who toils in the dark up to the sky-pilot who works Heaven, Graft keeps more men employed than any other industry Under its wise leadership there are never any. strikes, al- though the works run night and day. At one time, carly in its history, graft was crude in its form, the gross or Tweed graft being then common. As we have advanced im art and civilization, however, it has be- come more refined, and now the graceful Ryan, Jerome and Morgan shapes are seen everywhere. Too much graft is not good for very young children, but gradually ine doses they become used to it, so that, even in their teens, they may be fitted to take up the work of their fathers. It is but just to say that the graft industry has been made what it is to-day under the wise dircction of the Republican party, whose motto is “Give us this day our daily —— EXCUSE ME, BUT ARE YoU A VIVISECTOR?” comicbooks.com