Life, 1912-06-27 · page 16 of 45
Life — June 27, 1912 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical story mocks the futility of social reform by showing how *every institution* benefits from poverty and thus refuses to help eliminate it. A well-meaning Social Reformer seeks help abolishing poverty from various professionals. Each refuses: - A **Politician** claims poverty isn't a current political issue - A **Physician** needs disease (caused by poverty) for his business - A **Manufacturer** depends on desperate poor workers for cheap labor - A **Charity-worker** profits from poverty—their organizations employ many and let donors "ease their consciences" - A **Pauper** (the only one who agrees it's a good idea) lacks resources to help The joke: systemic poverty persists because the powerful have financial incentives to maintain it, while those who could benefit most are powerless. The reformer "moves on"—making no progress. The cartoon satirizes how self-interest disguises itself as necessity.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“OM, CEASE YOUR ROWING THAN TO HEAR YOU ROW, The Social Reformer HE blithely ask of abolishing poverty. upon a Politician and asked his aid. “Too bad, old man,” replied the Politician. “I should like to oblige you, but poverty is not an issue just I'm afraid you will have to Social Reformer set out upon his. self-appointed He came now. move on.” The Social Reformer went on a bit farther and met a Physician, He asked the Physician to help. replied the Phy- ase me. ve to go se of good sir,” sician, “you will have to e Without poverty I should h out of business, for it is the many of the diseases I am called upon to treat.” The Social Reformer went on a bit farther and met a Manufacturer, whose aid he soli “Can't do it at all, ir,” declared the Manufacturer emphatically. “It would be ruinous to my business, Without poverty I could not hire little children or secure adults at such low wages. You will have to move on, sir.” The Social Reformer went on a bit farther and came upon a Charity- worker whose help he requested. “T cannot deny that it would be a AND GO ON WITH YOUR ROWING. A ‘MATTER OF PRONUNCIATION WHEN WE LAND YOU CAN * replied the Char- ity-worker, “but I cannot assist. You see there is a vast quantity of capital invested in this and other charity or- ganizations. Also they employ a gre: many people and give a great many others an opportunity to ease their consciences through contributions. Without poverty, of course, all this ef- fort would be wasted.” xood thing in aw IT 1S MUCH PLEASANTER TO SEE YOU N ROWING, SO PLEASE ROW AHPAD” Ro RUssom , Row The ial Reformer went on a bit farther and, mecting a Pauper, asked him to help to abolish poverty. “A splendid ide: declared the Pauper, “and I should be delighted to help, but as I have neither job, money nor influence, there is nothing 1 can do.” The Social Reformer moved on and at latest accounts was still moving. r A STORM AT SEA comicbooks.com