Life, 1912-12-12 · page 18 of 48
Life — December 12, 1912 — page 18: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a satirical attack on Congress paired with a biting critique of corporate power. The text argues Congress is incompetent and proposes replacing democratic government with rule by major industrialists—specifically naming J.P. Morgan and John D. Rockefeller of Standard Oil. The accompanying illustration shows a crowded railway station (labeled with destinations like "Elysian Fields" and various towns), depicting Congress as a chaotic public institution—the visual metaphor for governmental disorder. The satire's irony is sharp: the author sarcastically praises Standard Oil's "perfection" while condemning government's failures, then concludes by proposing corporations literally run the country. The final line—"With offices at 126 Broadway"—likely references a corporate office, completing the joke that business efficiency should replace electoral democracy. This reflects early-20th-century tensions between progressive reformers (who saw Congress as corrupt) and robber barons (who claimed superior management). The satire cuts both ways, mocking both incompetent politicians and plutocratic arrogance.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
PUBLIC ONGRESS is a collection of men of almost average intelligence, who meet once or twice a year for the purpose of promoting unrest and disturbing business. The idea of Congress, as it was originally conceived, was to carry out the will and intention of the whole peo- ple, in order that they could attend to their private affairs in ease and security. One man can generally do a thing better than two, and much better than three; the more men you add on, as a rule, the worse the thing is done. Thus we see that as the country grows larger and Con- gress increases in size, it becomes more and more incom- petent. To pass a wise bill through Congress is like attempt- ing to drive a camel through the eye of a needle. Every wise bill introduced becomes more and more unwise as it proceeds on its checkered career through the various com- mittees. But this is not all. Congress not only hampers the people, but it obstructs the “interests” in their man- agement of the country. Congress doesn’t mean to do this, but it always does. Congress should be abolished and a. Tnarw teaver | SERVICE the government of the United States be placed in the office of the Steel Trust or the Standard Oil. If the business of running the United States govern- ment were placed in competent hands like Judge Gary’s, Mr. Morgan's, or Mr. Rockefeller’s, we could then be sure of having it scientifically and economically managed. The Standard Oil Company has built up the greatest and most perfect business machine the world has ever known. It is in effect not only a great business creation, but it is also a work of art. Our practice of government, on the other hand, has always been a failure; the prey of demagogues under the charge of men who have risen, not by accurate training in business methods, but by the power with which they have advertised themselves. Gov- ernment will always be the incompetent thing that it is so long as it is dependent upon the popular fancy. We have, therefore, the greatest opportunity ever pre- sented to any nation. Let us discharge our present em- ployees, amend the Constitution, and make the United States government a department of the greatest business machine in the world. With offices at 126 Broadway. comicbooks.com