Life, 1912-01-25 · page 14 of 44
Life — January 25, 1912 — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two distinct pieces: **"Advantages of the Aldrich Plan"** - An article by Prof. Art Bachelornum praising a financial reform proposal. The text defends the plan as scientific and beneficial, claiming it will stabilize banking and prevent government debt accumulation. However, the author appears to be using satire—describing the plan as almost "magical" and noting that bankers will somehow produce money they don't actually have, which seems impossible. **"Let Justice Be Done"** - An editorial criticizing "Reverend" Mr. Richeson, who appears to be a corrupt or hypocritical religious figure accused of serious crimes (murder, possibly involving a young woman). The piece condemns his use of religious language to manipulate his congregation and calls for his swift removal. **Bottom illustration** - A cartoon showing dogs referencing Shakespeare's *Much Ado About Nothing*, likely commenting on idle gossip or worthless talk surrounding these scandals.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A COLORED CONTRIBUTION Advantages of the Aldrich Plan Written especially for Lire by Prof. Art Bachelorum, financial expert. CANNOT hope to make the Aldrich Plan entirely clear. It is beyond the power of ordinary persons to un- derstand its intricacies, but there are certain things which this great and beneficent scheme will accomplish. In the first place, it must be remem- bered that the bankers are entirely unselfish in the matter. Although usu- ally they figure their own profits down to the last fraction of a cent, in this case they de: nothing for them- selves. Score one for Mr, Aldrich. They are thinking solely of the coun- try, of the business men and particu- larly of the workingmen, both em- ployed and unemployed. It has been charged that the Aldrich Plan is scientific. This is an egregious mistake. It is more than scientific; it is magical. Heretofore, whenever the bankers were called upon to pay money which they did not have, they could not do it. Under the Aldrich Plan all this will be changed. No matter how reckless bankers may be- come, and no matter how sharply they may be called to account for their recklessness, the Aldrich Plan will stand staunchly behind them and en- able them to pour forth money ad lib., even if to the naked eye their vaults look as if they had been visited by a safe breaker with a vacuum cleaner. In this way panics will be absolutely impossible. Everybody will get ex- “LDPE * actly what is coming to him at all times, even though nobody understands just where it comes from. The provision for giv- ing the bankers control of the public funds is particularly wise and forethoughtful. Even the most amateur economist knows that the public should have no funds if it can possibly be avoided. A government that succeeds in accumu- lating anything but debts is a rank failure. Any professor of political economy knows this, Thus, the Al- drich Plan will prevent the Govern- ment from being a failure. Lastly, the Aldrich Plan is so deli- cately and intricately devised, con- trived and adjusted that no one in particular can get control of it. As soon as it is put into effect, the idol- atry in which Mr. Morgan, for in- stance, is now held by the banking fra- ternity will disappear and he will be- come a mere individual with no in- fluence whatsoever. Whatever he wants he will not get. I do not mean to say there would be any special ad- vantage in this, but mention it merely to show what wonderful: things the Aldrich Plan can do, In a later article I hope to deal more at length with some of the detailed workings of this miraculous bit of financial expertness, “[/D_ rather be wrong than be Vice- President.” Let Justice Be Done IFE is not bloodthirsty, but it be- lieves that the execution of the “ Reverend” Mr. Richeson should take place speedily. No criminal of mod- ern times seems to combine in one per- sonality so much that is vicious, de- praved and vile. A cheat in his col- lege days, always a liar, hypocrite and betrayer, he has crowned his career with a murder combi cruelty and the cowardice of poisoner. There seems a danger that his ease in the use of religious terms may work on the sympathies of religious per- sons. Even in his confession there is evident an attempt to enlist their in- fluence in securing a commutation of his sentence, The way in which he has used religion as an aid and a cloak for his villainies is the strongest rea- son why religionists should refuse again to be deceived by him. He used the same pious terms and displayed the same familiar fellowship with God both when, in his resignation as their pastor, he assured Ins congregation of his innocence, and when he confessed to poisoning the girl who had trusted him so that he might marry another girl with more money. That his confession saves the State of Massachusetts the cost of a trial is urged as a reason for commutation, God help that Commonwealth if sav- ing money is to deseat its justice, Richeson should be removed from this world, and that speedily. A FELLOW THAT HATH HAD LOSSES, AND ONE THAT HATH TWO. COWNS AND EVERYTHING HANDSOME ADOUT HIM —Much Ado About Nothing. icbooks.com