Life, 1916-03-09 · page 39 of 44
Life — March 9, 1916 — page 39: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two distinct elements: **Left side:** An editorial piece titled "Gouging the Public" criticizes anthracite coal operators for price-gouging consumers. It references the 1902 anthracite strike and argues that while miners received wage increases (10% twice, 21% total by 1912), operators passed far larger costs to consumers—miners got 13 cents more per ton, but consumers paid 50 cents more. The editorial accuses operators of hypocritically appealing for public support in wage negotiations while having systematically overcharged the public for fourteen years. **Right side:** Advertisements for Fownes Gloves and Kissel Motor Cars—the latter promoting an "All-Year Car" with a removable top for spring weather, priced $1,450-$2,100. **Bottom:** A satirical piece titled "If They Told the Truth" presents brutally honest (and insulting) statements spouses and doctors might make if candor replaced social convention—a commentary on hypocrisy in everyday relationships.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“Gouging the Public” EFERRING to the statement re- cently issued by the anthracite coal operators, which practically serves notice upon coal consumers (that is, the general public) that they are the ones who must be prepared to pay the cost, the New York World says edi- torially : In the circumstances consumers know by experience what to ex- pect. Since the great anthracite strike of 1902 the miners have twice received a 10 per cent. advance in pay, a net increase of 21 ver cent. in 1912 as compared with 1901. But in raising the pay of the miners the operators have raised the price of coal to consumers far more than enough to compensate themselves for the higher wages paid. Where the miner received 13 cents more a ton for mining coal, the consumer was made to pay s0 cents more a ton for the coal he used. When the State of Pennsylvania imposed a tax on anthracite mined, the operators added the tax to the price of coal, collected it for their own protec: tion, then refused to pay the an- thracite tax to the State and suc- ceeded in having the Anthracite- Tax Law overthrown in the courts In appealing in advance to con- sumers for their moral support in the approaching negotiations with the mine-workers on the question of higher wages, the operators fail to acknowledge how active they have been during the last fourteen years in gouging the public on their ac- count, OWNE GLOVES The retailer does not make the gloves he sells. Like you who buy them, he depends chiefly on the reputation of the maker for good value. Thus, his ou» reputation is involved. Most dealers who cherish their own reputation wel- come the opportunity of depending on the Fownes reputation. They take no chances. Neither do you. 418 Kissel Avenue If They Told the Truth “T WON'T be home to-night, dear. I'm going to break loose and see if I can cure myself of being tired of looking at you.” “Good night! Next time you ask me to such a poor dinacr, put me alongside of somebody who is at least half-witted.” “There is absolutely nothing the matter with you, madam, except pure he L-YEA Car car you can use now and during the bad weather of early Spring. It takes just thirty minutes to remove the $1450 to $2100., Kissel Motor Car Company top when open dniving is desirable. KISSELKAR_ Every Inch a Car The All-Year Car is mounted on two won- derful chasses—the 42-Six and the High Efficiency 32-Four. Hartford, Wis. Built IN— not ON laziness; but just to maintain appear- ances and give myself an excuse to call again, I'll write out a couple of prescriptions and charge you five dol- lars.” “T can't begin to tell you how little 1 enjoyed your voice; I don't think I ever heard a worse one.” “ Darling, life without you would not be worth living—say, for about a couple of years.” comicbooks.com