Life, 1913-05-08 · page 13 of 48
Life — May 8, 1913 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The top cartoon depicts a street scene labeled "DEMOCRACY" showing three figures: a well-dressed man in a top hat (likely representing wealth or Republican interests), a woman in fashionable dress, and a boy with small dogs on a leash. The illustration satirizes social inequality and class divisions within democracy. Below are two separate pieces: "An Interruption" mocks political debate about tariffs and protectionism, with the Common People, Rich People, and Socialists all making claims. "Be an Alabama Oyster" sarcastically critiques Alabama's child labor laws by praising their protection of oyster industry workers—likely exposing how these "protections" are inadequate or cynically applied. Both pieces attack hypocrisy in Progressive Era politics.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Iti HiT Nal| HA i) DEMOCRACY An Interruption HE tariff on common necessities having been removed, a great pop- ular clamor ensued. “This places us,” said the Common People, “on an equality with the Rich.” “What we fear,” the Socialist, “js that the proletariat will be gradually abolished. And then what will we write about?” The chief blame rested upon the Democratic Party. “Your promise has been kept,” shouted the whole People. “Nothing like this in any Repub- lican Administration has ever happened before. You have deceived us.” Thereupon they turned the inncvators out and history was once more resumed Be an Alabama Oyster if * you are in doubt as to what career to choose, be an Alabama oyster. Alabama has a most elaborate code respecting the oyster family. This code is advertised widely and we find in it the statement: “ Liberal laws for the protection and promotion of every feature of the (oyster) industry." Child labor is a feature of the canning part of the industry. Child labor is, therefore, liberally protected and promoted. Child labor being protected and promoted, the children who do the labor must, of course, be neglected and stunted. It’s all a matter of taste. fer to be overworked, underpaid and illiterate, and therefore would be content as a child in Alabama, but as we confess to considerable old-fashioned fastidious- ness, we should rather cast our lot with the more sybaritic bivalve. Some people would pre- comicbooks.com