Life, 1915-02-11 · page 8 of 44
Life — February 11, 1915 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page presents a satirical narrative about newspaper editorial authority. An editor summons Aladdin (a genie figure) to remove a rival editor he deems unfit, claiming newspapers should be run by "experts"—bankers, railroad men, and financiers—not editors themselves. The cartoon's satire targets **early 20th-century consolidation of newspaper ownership** by wealthy industrialists and financiers who believed businessmen, not journalists, should control media content. The "man on the inside" illustration reinforces this theme of hidden manipulation. The dialogue mocks the editor's pretension that professional expertise justifies removing editorial independence. The final exchange between Crawford and Crabshaw suggests this editorial takeover has actually caused marital trouble, undercutting the editor's confident justification for his actions.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“Going Down” “BRING me an editor!” The genie trembled as Aladdin, rubbing his lamp furiously, spoke. “Excuse me, your honor, what kind of an editor?” “Any kind, you idiot! They are all alike. But if you must be explicit, say the editor of a daily newspaper in a town of a million.” The editor was brought. looked him over. “Where do you get your informa- tion from?” he asked. “Why, from headquarters,’ the editor in -surpri: ixplain yoursel “If I want to know about banks I go to a banker; about medicine I go to a doctor; about railroads I go to a railroad president.” “Well, go on,” said Aladdin. “Sure,” said the editor, becoming interested. “It’s easy. If I want to Aladdin replied ULYSSES AND THE STRENG know about the weather I go to a weather man.” “And about, broker?” “Certainly; and about financier.” “That will do.” Aladdin rubbed again. appeared. J stocks, to a stock finance to a The genie THE MAN ON THE INSIDE G \ USN . Saw “Here, slave, take this editor away and drown him. He's out of place in our modern civilization. He's super- fluous. He takes up room.” The editor squealed. “What do you mean?” he asked. “ How can they get along without me? This made Aladdin actually smile, as he motioned to the genie to put some cocoanut oil on the toboggan. “My dear boy,” he replied, “haven't you just admitted that your paper was run by bankers, railroad men, finan- ciers, weather men and brokers? You made the mistake of not editing it yourself. Believe me, you won't be missed.” RAWFORD: I understand that his matrimonial difficulties have been settled. CrassHaw: Yes; wife’s relatives have agreed to maintain strict ncu- trality.