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Life, 1913-05-29 · page 41 of 44

Life — May 29, 1913 — page 41: what you’re looking at

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Life — May 29, 1913 — page 41: Life, 1913-05-29

What you’re looking at

This article satirizes the hypocrisy of corporate America by exposing a double standard regarding minimum wages. Life contrasts how the Standard Oil Company—when unable to maintain high profit margins—raises oil prices to protect its interests, yet society condemns young working women who cannot survive on Philadelphia's declared subsistence wage of $7.20 weekly. The satire's bite: if corporations like Standard Oil or the New Haven Railroad couldn't earn adequate profit, they'd "retire from the field" with dignity. Yet women in identical economic straits are labeled "wicked creatures" and "drags upon society"—social pariahs forced into desperation. The author argues this reflects not morality but power: corporations can dictate prices; poor women cannot. The title "A Matter of Honor" drips with irony—suggesting society's "honor" actually masks indifference to women's suffering while protecting corporate interests.

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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

-LIFE-_ -Monogrammed— [eR] The finest French Crystal in exclusive shapes that will lend ‘touch of elegance and indi- ality to your home. D ed for practical use. Ex- Clusive open stock patterns Your Monogram on Every Piece Decorated In pure coin gold or engraved. Welmport this toldirect In the unfintabed state, thussaving the high duty. Complete Set, 60 Pieces Cut Crystal Service with coin gold band and your monogram ‘Most durable and unique shapes that are very graceful. The work- manship 18 guaranteed to pre- engraved ported Crystal Cocktail Glasses, each with wide coln gold band | Dept. D. 47 West 36th Street, New York and is not able to declare any more than a 100 per cent. dividend, then it raises the price of oil three cents a gallon, as it did recently. With young girls who have to carn their living, however, the case is entirely different. They cannot force the public to pay them any more than they are worth; the Standard Oil Company has an immense advantage over them. This is probably why the Standard Oil Company is so much respected. It is able to command its own price in the open market. It may also account for the fact that so many young women, who become white slaves because they cannot live on 7.20 a week, are regarded by so many respectable members of society as being such thoroughly wicked creature Between Sth and 6th Aves. A Matter of Honor HE Committee on Social Service of the Interchurch Federation of Philadelphia has issued a statement in which it declares that a self-supporting woman in Philadelphia cannot live on less than $7.20 per wee If any young woman in Philadelphia attempts to live on less than this, then she becomes a drag upon society; she is below what is known by the sociological experts as the pauper line. In other words, if you are receiving $7.20 per week you are, so far as Phila- delphia is concerned (and Philadelphia represents that mythical body, the state), a nonenity. You do no harm and you do no good. In New York the amount necessary for a young woman to subsist upon is slightly higher, as the expense of living appears to increase with the size of the city. But no matter what the city from seven to nine dollars a week are what it costs to keep body and soul to- &cther, without anything superfluous. This being the case, why live at all? Isn't it an impertinence for any woman who cannot make more than $7.20 a week to take up room anywhere? If, for example—among corporations —the Standard Oil Company or the New Haven Railroad should not be able to make more than $7.20 a week, we should expect them to retire from the field. They would, anyway, of their own voli- tion. Their self-respect would be in- volved. Each of these corporations would naturally say : _ “If the community cannot support us in comfort, then we will not give them the advantage of writing things about us, of holding us up to public sympathy ; this is a question of honor.” The Standard Oil Company, of course, Ses not do this. When it ge Anheuser-Busch Will Buy This Barley Only the ick of America’s Farley tre good enough from which wo brew arc oee e Budweiser America’s National Beverage ‘The uniform flavor, quality and purity of Budweiser remains always the same because only the best materials enter our plant. Bottled only at the home flant in St. Louis Anbeuser-Basch Brewery St. Louis Makes the best cocktail. A pleasing aromatic with all Wine, Spirit and Soda beverages. Appetizing, healthfol, with Grape Fruit, Oranges, Wine Jelly. At Wine Me chants or Druggist, Sample by mail, 2scin stamps. comicbooks.com