Life — August 16, 1917 — page 12: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Hewing Their Way Farther" This illustration depicts a figure with an axe clearing tall trees in a forest, titled "Hewing Their Way Farther." The accompanying article discusses French sentiment regarding wealth distribution and property ownership. The text references Bill Haywood (I.W.W. leader) and compares French and Russian attitudes toward socialism and communism. It argues that French property owners—like Americans—view property ownership as defense "against communists." The cartoon likely represents the metaphorical "clearing of obstacles" or forward progress, possibly suggesting either the labor movement's advancement or, conversely, the clearing away of communist/socialist influence in France. The manual labor depicted may reference working-class struggle or the effort required to maintain capitalist property systems against socialist pressure.