Life, 1913-08-28 · page 33 of 40
Life — August 28, 1913 — page 33: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes **Mrs. J. Borden Harriman**, a real socialite who apparently claimed credit for resolving a major eastern railroad strike (likely the 1916 rail workers' strike). The cartoon's joke: Harriman boasts to "Life" magazine that she single-handedly stopped the strike by simply *telling* Secretary Tumulty about it, who told President Wilson, who told Congress, who told the railroad companies—as if her mere awareness of the problem solved it. The satire mocks her for taking undeserved credit for what was actually resolved through official government channels. The humor relies on: her self-importance, the absurd chain-of-command she describes, and the implication that nothing she actually *did* mattered—the strike resolution happened regardless. It's a pointed critique of wealthy socialites claiming political influence without substance. The page also contains period advertisements (Knox Hats, V-All-No mints) and unrelated baseball humor.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
On Life’s Wire “Fett, Lae?” "Yes." “This is Mrs. Harriman speaking.” “Mrs, Harriman?” “Yes. Mrs. J. Borden Harriman, the lady that stopped the strike.” * “What strike?” “ The big strike on all the eastern rail- road lines. Didn't you hear about it?” “Why no.” “That's funny. Where have you been, Lire? Possibly you were off on your vacation at the time. If it hadn't been for me, Lire, we should have had the worst tie-up you ever heard of.” “You don’t say, Mrs. Harriman. What did you do? Please relieve our suspense. “Tl tell you, Lire. You see, in the first place, I take a keen interest in everything that is going on. Well, all of a sudden I found out there was going to be an awfully big railroad strike unless something was done. Without losing a minute I went to Secretary Tumulty and I told him there was going to be a dreadfully big railroad strike unless something was done. Well, Secretary Tumulty was more than surprised; he was thunder- struck; but he didn’t stand around in that helpless way so characteristic of most men, I will say that for him, He went straightaway to President Wil- son, and he told President Wilson there was going to be a fearfully big railroad strike unless something was done. Well, I won't tire you with all the details of the thing, Lire, but the matter reached the ears of Congress and others, and the first thing you know it got around to the railroad employees and employers that there was going to be a disastrous railroad strike unless something was done. Now wasn’t that fine, Lire?” “Bully, Mrs. Harriman. You must have discovered the situation in the s kd s ® gee secre in every important city in the world. “Tt looks that way, Lire, doesn’t it?” “And are you going to keep right Catalogue on Application on taking an interest in things, Mrs. Harriman? THE KNOX HAT MANUFACTURING COMPANY “T certainly am.” Wholesale Salesrooms Factory 452 Fifth Avenue, New York Brooklyn, N.Y. *U-ALL-NO:- : = AFTER DINNER MINT “Well, then, we are warranted no doubt in fecling that the future will be BM Adelicious reasonably free from strikes?” eet creamy candy “T think so, Lier.” VA LL:-NO% with a flavor “Keep us advised, Mrs. Harriman.” - “arTeR OINNER MINT ) BRIBED “I will, Good-bye.” yes “ Good-bye." : ; 3 cs L E. 0. J. i —s % Y y, — ee YER Sold in tin aa } boxes only etnias, — never ‘OF AMERICA in bulk. “A genuine artist You should BASEBALL TALK hear her refrain from singing.” BEATING OUT A BUNT ) MANUFA' “TS she really musical?” comicbooks.com