Life, 1911-11-23 · page 16 of 44
Life — November 23, 1911 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page critiques the **Aldrich Plan**, a banking reform proposal (likely the 1908 Aldrich-Vreeland Act). The text mocks financial papers for circular, meaningless arguments about whether the plan causes "centralization"—arguing the real issue is *who* controls centralized funds: the government or private banks. The lower cartoon illustrates the hypocrisy. A **Contractor** claims he "risks capital" by objecting to public control of funds, while a **Worker on Bridges and Buildings** points out he risks his *life* doing the actual labor. The satire exposes how financial elites frame banking centralization as dangerous to business while workers bear the actual physical danger—yet have no say in the outcome. The page advocates for **public** over **private** centralization of financial control.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
LIFE AND HIS FRIENDS THE TRYSTING PLACE Centralization HE best way to become confused over a problem in finance or financial legislation is to read a financial paper. Consider the following from the United States Investor of Boston: “Probably the most serious objection thus far made to the Aldrich plan has been the fact that it so clearly paved the way for centralization. The reply has been made that the Aldrich plan did not aim at cen- tralization,” This occurs in the center of an editorial which says nothing and which concludes thus: “ Perhaps it is as well to have the issue made as sharp as pos- sible in the beginning.” This is amusing, but let’s take it seriously. What is the issue? This is it. Be it remembered, first, that the Aldrich plan neither paves the way for, nor aims at, centraliza- tion. It is centralization. The present plan of hav- ing the public funds in the public treasury is also centralization. Mr. Aldrich merely wishes to change the center of the centralization. Shall we have a public centralization or a private centralization? That is the issue. Consractor: wuy, CONFOUND IT! 1 RISK My CAPITAL! YOU DON'T RISK ANYTHING. Worker on Bridges and Buildings: THAT's RIGHT; ALL 1 RISK IS MY LIFE. comicbookseenml (0)