Life, 1919-06-19 · page 37 of 42
Life — June 19, 1919 — page 37: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily **advertising and corporate messaging**, not political satire. The dominant content is a **full-page advertisement by American Telephone and Telegraph Company** defending recent telephone rate increases. The accompanying graph shows commodity price inflation from 1913-1919 (during WWI and its aftermath). AT&T's argument: while other industries raised prices dramatically, telephone rates remained nearly flat—so the modest 8% rate increase is justified and reasonable. The smaller items are service advertisements: the **Automobile Blue Book** (a travel guide for motor trips) and a **stock-promotion scheme** for an oil well in Texas, humorously noting that a "retired policeman" is confident in the venture. There's mild satire in the stock pitch's cavalier tone about collateral, but the page reflects post-WWI economic anxiety—justifying price increases to a public facing inflation everywhere. The message: telephone service deserves revenue support to maintain quality, positioning AT&T as a responsible monopoly amid broader economic strain.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Lire’S Market Letter ferred has pursued an urse in the last two i get caring of la ed our advice and they bought have © money, and plenty linary investment ts 1 LE it should turn hat this vany has case two acres of Jand ard amen irty- “nue Planning a Motor Trip? kK Xow where you’re going— the best way to get there— ow far it is —where you will find Hetours—::nd where to stop each hoon and ight. Touring Service of e Blue Book uring Club if you own a copy of bile Blue Book. the next book store, supply rnews-stand; examine a copy about this valuable service. or sent postpaid on receipt stomobile Blue Book lishing Company San Francisco “hiS*#? A graphic picture of the high cost of doing business is shown by the rise in a long list of commodity prices during the past five strenuous years. By the exercise of unparalleled economies, telephone rates have been kept almost unchanged. The fact is, the increase in the cost ‘| of commodities has resulted in what is equal to a decrease in telephone rates. In other words: The dollar which was spent for the telephone has bought more than twice as much | as the dollar spent for the commodity. A Comparison of Costs The activities of reconstruction which are now upon the nation have put a great burden upon the telephone. This condition has made necessary an advance in telephone rates. This advance does not exceed an average of eight percent; almost neg- ligible as compared with the advances in other lines of industry, yet enough to cover the increase in the cost of operation. Only through adequate revenue can there be assured the maintenance of a high standard of telephone service: AMERICAN TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH COMPANY AND ASSOCIATED COMPANIES One Policy in Texas within ten miles of a pro- spective oil well very highly thought of by a certain retired policeman (who does not care to be quoted), the com- pany’s future as a going concern is assured. We do not guarantee the above statements, but it is agreed by the cus- tomer that if he buys the stock through under the rules of the . hock his certificate with any bank that will lend us anything on it. One System Universal Service ion Department employs no di- it does not offer prizes, colle; es or other inducements for agents to canvass for subscriptions. Anyon liciting subscriptions on any. such basis the authorities swindler. ith a reliable book f you do not be turned ove uur orde: LIFE_PUBLISHING COMPANY 7 West 31st Street New Ye a aT ceo, | comicbooks.com