Life, 1919-06-19 · page 39 of 42
Life — June 19, 1919 — page 39: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains an advertisement defending Life magazine's pricing against postmaster Albert Burleson's wartime postal policies. The cartoon "The Daring Rescue" (left) depicts a figure pulling another from water, likely a visual metaphor for Life "rescuing" readers from unfair treatment. **The Political Context:** Burleson implemented controversial "zone laws" after July 1st that dramatically increased mail delivery costs to Western and South-Western states. Life magazine frames itself as a hero standing against this discrimination, refusing to raise subscription prices despite increased postage, paper, and labor costs—conditions explicitly enumerated in the ad. **The Satire:** Life positions itself as championing ordinary citizens harmed by what it characterizes as an "absurd" government policy. The magazine's restraint on pricing becomes an implicit critique of Burleson's administration, suggesting the government unfairly burdens Western readers while Life absorbs losses to maintain fairness. This reflects broader Progressive-era tensions over postal policy and regional equity during WWI.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Burleson Government finds it necessary to discriminate against citizens who live in the Western and South-Western States Lire does not discriminate against its readers in those States In Spite of he absurd Burleson zone Jaw which, after July first, will gely increase the cost of delivering mail to the Western and South-Western States ; Ju Spite of the largely increased cost of coated and super-calendered Ju Spite of the great advance in the wages of union labor affecting compositors, pressmen, feeders and binders; In Spite of : increased salaries, rent, and price of all materials, L ife did not increase its prices during the war and has not in- creased them since the war. Unless something unforeseen oceurs the price of Lire will remain the same as before, and uniform, regardless of zones. PER COPY TEN CENTS PER YEAR: United States and American Possessions Five Dollars i Canada Five & 52-100 Dollars § THE DARING kescUE All Countries in Postal Union Six & 4-100 Dollars Strictly in Advance Parts of « Year at Proportional Rates comicbooks.com