Life, 1917-04-12 · page 2 of 42
Life — April 12, 1917 — page 2: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily **advertising for Prudential Insurance**, using a satirical cartoon to make a business pitch. The cartoon depicts a government auditor meeting with a railroad president. The auditor has meticulously inventoried the company's physical assets—tracks, engines, terminals, franchises—but overlooked employees. The president points out this omission, arguing that after 60 years of development, employees are "the most valuable asset" and would cost millions to replace. The advertisement then pivots to Prudential's pitch: companies should insure their workforce through group insurance policies, like successful competitors already do. The joke satirizes both corporate auditing practices and the emerging business case for employee benefits during the early 20th century. This represents the period when group insurance was becoming a competitive recruiting and retention tool for major employers.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Pattished every Tharstay_ Annus! sutscription Five Dollars. Single Copies, Ten Cents Price in Engied, Sixpence LIFE “But,” said the railroad president to the government auditor, “haven’t you forgotten something?” IHE auditor, representing the United States Government, had been making a valuation of the entire railway system. He had figured the cost of replacing its tracks; the value of its engines and carsand terminals; the value of its franchises and rights of way and good will. He gathered the figures together and laid them on the railway president's desk. “But,” said the president, “haven't you forgot- ten something 2” “I think not,” the auditor answered. “How about our employees?” the president asked. “Have you valued them?” The auditor was nettled. “Of course not,” he replied, “why should 1?” “We have been more than sixty years in build- ing that force,” the president responded. “We should have to spend millions of dollars to replace it. Our employees are the most valuable asset we have.” Your employees also are your most valuable asset It has taken you years to gather them together and train them. To replace them would be costly, if not impossible. You can insure your buildings and raw materials; you have insured them. Have you thought of insuring your men and women ? You can insure their enthusi- asm and their loyalty. You can, by a group insurance policy, covering them all, give them a rudential Group Insurance powerful added reason for wanting to remain perma- nently in your employ. The largest, most successful employers in the country have looked ahead. In these days of prosperity and large earnings they have taken out group insurance policies covering all their employees. Your company belongs side by side with successful, far-see- ing leaders like these. N investment in good will which is important enough to appeal to the greatest executives in the country deserves your investigation, at least. send for this worth-while booklet We have prepared a booklet on group insurance. There is a copy for you, waiting your request. We shall be glad to have a letter from you, asking us specific questions about group insurance—questions that will demand a special, personal letter. But ask for the Booklet, at least. The Prudential Insurance Company of America Incorporated under the laws of the State of New FORREST F. DRYDEN, Pre: a3 Home Office, ‘NEWARK, N. J. Pry Cas Departnent Ga ‘Couyright in England and the British Posen? comichooks.gom