Life, 1912-11-14 · page 19 of 44
Life — November 14, 1912 — page 19: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page critiques media control and labor relations through multiple cartoons: **Top section:** Text discusses allegations by Mr. Haywood (likely IWW leader Bill Haywood) that the Associated Press is unconsciously controlled by wealthy financial interests—Morgan, Ryan, Hill—similar to how a clergyman's message is shaped by his congregation's money. The analogy suggests institutional corruption through financial influence rather than explicit censorship. **"Motive Counts":** A racist caricature of a Black defendant ('Rastus) argues he stole pants for baptism, satirizing how motivations can justify wrongdoing. **Animal cartoons:** A horse and goat boast humorously about achievements; Aunt Mary's cat scenario appears as visual humor. **"Old Pals":** The main satirical piece depicts a manufacturer demanding arrest of labor agitators. A skeletal figure representing "Hunger" appears, claiming to be the "original stirrer" of workers and "father of anarchists." The manufacturer then realizes Hunger itself is his best labor agent—suggesting that worker unrest stems from poverty and desperation, which capitalists inadvertently create and rely upon.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
*LIPE= present it as an illustration of what Mr. Haywood means in his statement. He does not mean necessarily that Mr. Morgan, or Mr. Thomas Ryan, or Mr. J. Hill, look over the proofs of everything that is sent out by the Associated Press and blue pencil what they do not like. Neither does it mean that there is a settled policy by which certain items of news should be suppressed and other items of news changed But it does mean that in unconscious ways the Asso- ciated Press may be controlled by the interests, in just the same way that a cler; an in his pulpit is controlled by the fact that the leading men of his congregation (who are supporting the church and largely paying his salary) control this clergyman in his utterances. “Under present conditions,” says Mr. Haywood, “neither priest nor preacher can tell the truth from the pulpit nor teach the gospel of Christ, because if they did they would lose their jobs.” This is the sum and substance of the whole charge brought by Mr. Haywood. Can the Associated Press answer it? And is it possible for them to convince us that the eight hundred papers that they have under their control are not unconsciously controlled by the dominating finan- cial influences of the present day? Motive Counts your Honor,” said 'Rastus in police court, “I'se guilty; I stole them pants. But, your Honor, there ain't no sin when the motive am good. I done stole them pants to get baptized in.” “Y Wy AUNT MARY AT HER WINDOW AS SHE APPEARED WHEN PUSSY HID HIS HEAD UNDER ITER CAP ellos ry oh The horse: 1 1 WAS To TELL YOU HOW MANY BLUE RIBUONS I'VE WON, YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE ME. Fhe goat: WY poN’T YOU TRY ME WITH ADOUT HALF TO START WITH? Old Pals HE manufacturer threw a belligerent chest. “ Arrest em,” he said. “If Thad my way I'd arrest every blighted labor agitator in the United States.” A gaunt figure with a skull in place of the head rose exultantly. Then arrest me,” it cackled. capering. ate: the Tam the am original stirrer up of those who do hard labor. ancient breeder of discontent, the father of the agitator of agi! Arrest me.” “But who are you?” “Tam Hunge: “Tut! tut!” said the manufacturer pleasantly. “ Why should I arrest my best and chiefest Labor Agent.” anarchists, ators. comicbooks.com