Life, 1915-01-14 · page 18 of 44
Life — January 14, 1915 — page 18: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**"Trouble Was Averted"** mocks economic inequality and political deception. A financial authority addresses a rioting crowd suffering from high living costs and low wages. Rather than addressing these material problems, he announces satisfactory exchange rates and bank clearings—abstract financial metrics meaningless to starving workers. The crowd, foolishly pacified by this rhetoric, disperses happy. The satire suggests ordinary people are easily manipulated by irrelevant statistics when they should demand actual economic relief. **"The Heir and the Stumbling-Block"** (top illustration) appears to show wealth or inheritance blocked by some obstacle, though specific referents are unclear. **"A Natural Attitude"** criticizes municipal hypocrisy regarding the Black Hand (Italian organized crime/extortion rings operating in early 20th-century American cities). Authorities publicly condemn it while tacitly permitting its operations, maintaining plausible deniability while organized crime flourishes. The page reflects Progressive-era concerns: economic injustice, political corruption, and organized crime in cities.
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CBE THE HEIR AND THE STUMBLING-BLOCK Trouble Was Averted NCE there was a nation that was sorely beset with difficulties. The cost of living was high, wages were low, and employment was irregular. No mat- ter how hard the people worked or how much they produced, they had practically nothing to show for it. For a long time they were patient and showed no signs of discontent- ment, but gradually they began to murmur, and their murmurs became louder and more threatening. Then they commenced to gather in the market-place in increasing numbers, until at last there was a great crowd and its complainings rose to a mighty tumult. When the tumult was at its height, however, and when it seemed that some radical step would surely have to be taken ere long, the Supreme High Priest of Finance ap- peared on the balcony and held up his hand as if he wished to address the throng. When the din was finally settled he began to speak in carnest tones. “My friends,” he said, “I know that you have had ample cause for your unrest and I have worried much about your condition, but now I have good news for you. I am able to state with absolute authority that rates for sterling ex- change are now entirely satisfactory; that bank clearings have reached a point which is more than gratifying under the circumstances, and that the outflow of gold to Europe has been completely stopped. So you see there is no need whatsoever for any misery.” Hearing these welcome words, the people gave forth a great hopeful cheer and immediately dispersed to their homes, once more possessed of serene happiness and secure contentment. Moral—The people are always amenable to reason. Ellis O. Jones. A Natural Attitude "THERE is something supremely edifying about the hypocrisy of city authorities which refuses openly to acknowledge the Black Hand while permitting the secret supremacy and the secret crimes of the Black Hand. To permit the Black Hand to murder constantly, and with offensive effrontery, and at the same time to shake one’s fist at the Black Hand publicly, without doing much else about it, is nothing more than plain hypocrisy. There is, however, doubtless some excuse for this kind of hypocrisy, because it is based upon a sense of shame. The Black Hand at least is honest in its efforts, most of which—thanks to the city authorities—are successful. The city authorities, on the other hand, are not so honest in their efforts to exterminate the Black Hand. Knowing this, and knowing also that without their protection the Black Hand could not exist, they are naturally trying to make it appear as if they were really anxious to do some- thing about it. I" is moved and seconded that more people go in for raising meat and fewer people go in for raising meat prices. ba SAY, SIS, I WISH YOU WOULD HURRY UP AN’ GET MARRIED, I WANT TO BE A UNCLE” comichooks.qeom