Life, 1912-10-17 · page 17 of 44
Life — October 17, 1912 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains several short political satires typical of early 1900s Life magazine: **"Proof"** mocks the Archbold-Penrose revelations regarding Standard Oil's political donations to President Roosevelt. Life sarcastically catalogs what the scandal *doesn't* prove—that Roosevelt sold favors, would have kept corrupt promises, or that the money wasn't given generously. The point: the evidence reveals obvious corruption, yet powerful interests use technical arguments to obscure accountability. **"Consolation"** satirizes class hypocrisy: a society leader criticizes Democrats as "common," but a Briggs character retorts he can occasionally escape Democrats while she cannot escape her own social circle—implying Republican elites are equally (or more) common. **"The Slipper of Love"** attacks Governor Osborn's defense of brutal prison conditions at Jackson penitentiary. His comparison of severe floggings to maternal discipline is presented as absurd rationalization for institutional cruelty. The unnamed cartoon at top appears to show someone startled by a motorcycle or vehicle, captioned "SHUCKS! I MUST HAVE FRIGHTENED HIM."
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Nc 2001 Good News for the Helpless PD & NEUMAN, the noted Austrian specialist. who recently visited this country, said only the human body could furnish the medical profession with data necessary for the study of disease. The Rockefeller Institute Hospital cannot do the highest good, even though Mr. Rockefeller has given it all the money it needs. Cheer up, dogs! Consolation OCIETY LEADER: I should think you would hate to associate with the Democrats. They are such a common crowd. Brices: Yes, but I can get away from them oc- and you can't from yours. casionall. ss HAT does Jn loco parentis mean, father?” “In your father’s auto, Johnni SHUCKS! | MUST HAVE FRIGHTENED HIM.” Proof HE Archbold and Penrose revelations, contends the New York Evening Post, “do not prove that Roose- velt sold himself, or that, in return for campaign contribu- tions, he made any promises of Government favor to cor- porations.” Certainly not. Nor do they prove that he would have kept the promise, even if he had made it. Nor do they prove that those Standard Oil funds were given in any- thing but the highest and noblest spirit of generosity. Nor do they prove that, having confessed, Messrs. Archbold and Penrose are now entitled to be relieved of all further watching. Nor do they prove that the Democratic party and the regular Republicans would not take without con- siderable hesitation as much Standard Oil money as might be forthcoming. In short, we find it difficult to see that anything at all is proved. BoOad, The Slipper of Love EPORTS of excessive cruelty towards the prisoners in the Michigan penitentiary at Jackson bring prompt and welcome reassurances from Governor Osborn. He “Tt is simply a spanking such yy wise mother gives an unruly and incorrigible and disobedient child, em- phasized in severity in proportion as the man is bigger than the child.” From which it is easy to see that the gentle and tender- hearted officials love the naughty prisoners dearly, and the floggings no doubt pain the donors vastly more than the recipients. THE COMFORTER —_ Champion of New Boy: were, YoU FELLERS, CUT I seems that the money-changers are leaving the temples OUT YOUR KIDDIN’. I GUESS ANY OF YoU’D CRY IF You and going to the universities. DKED LIKE HE DOES, comicbooks.com