Life — February 6, 1913 — page 10: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Political Context of This Life Magazine Page This February 6, 1913 page discusses Governor Sulzer of New York and the **Subways Contracts controversy**. The editorial criticizes Sulzer's handling of disputes between the city and contractors, suggesting he's being manipulated by Chairman Wilcox of the Public Utilities Commission. The cartoons appear to satirize the complex negotiations: one shows a figure struggling with entangled rope or pipes (likely representing the tangled subway contracts), another depicts someone in a boat, possibly illustrating being "lost" in bureaucratic complications. The text reveals tension between labor interests, business concerns, and political maneuvering during New York's early subway system expansion—a major issue where Governor Sulzer faced criticism for failing to decisively resolve contract disputes that affected workers and the city's infrastructure development.