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Life, 1919-09-04 · page 41 of 48

Life — September 4, 1919 — page 41: what you’re looking at

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Life — September 4, 1919 — page 41: Life, 1919-09-04

What you’re looking at

This page from *Life* magazine contains a satirical narrative (likely from the early 1900s) mocking an absurd labor dispute. The story describes union members demanding they swap positions with their employers—workers would take over the businesses while owners receive employee wages and "food, fuel and a place to live." The satire targets both sides: workers making unreasonable demands ("We demand a share in the profits") and employers' initial intransigence. The government commissioner's compromise—essentially paying workers' salaries via loans—is presented as ridiculous. The final caption ("Things that are what they appear to be are so rare...") suggests the entire settlement is fraudulent theater. This reflects broader early-20th-century labor unrest anxieties, ridiculing workers' grievances while mocking how easily authorities could be manipulated. The page also contains period advertisements (Waterman pens, Bell-Ans indigestion relief), typical of *Life*'s format.

📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Send for a Complete Catalogue of MASONIC BOOKS.) Jewelry and Goods| REDDING & CO. Publishers and Manufacturers | Dept. L. 200 Fif th Avenue, New York | s, and I can't sleep nights of new ways to meet my increased salary lists!” cried one of the union members.“ The time has come when we must take some definite action or all travel over the hills to the poorhouse.” No rioting marked the early stages of the strike. The police broke up a few gatherings on the street corners od dispersed several parades in which 1 flags were carried, and employers banners with such inscriptions as We demand a share in the profits of oar own businesses!" “ Our employees are grinding us to death!” Efforts at compromise were at first futile, the employers’ demands be- ing excessive. The union demanded that the employees change places with the employers, and that the employers get the w paid the employees, the litter taking over the businesses with al the attendant risks and responsi- Students returning to school and college and business men and women returning to their regular occupations enjoy a tage if equipped with Waterman's Idea untain Pen Its unfailing readiness to write instantly anywhere, without need for desk or inkwell, saves time and multiplies daily the opportunities. for accomplishment In actual use, it is the most satisfactory and economical of all hand writing mediums and its years of service are an added source of satis faction to its matchless convenience. You can find in Waterman's Ideal Fountain Pen a nib that suits you f comfortably vice-pres ‘inion with stinct advan- perfectly and a size of barrel that fits your 1 Your dealer will help in your selection THREE TYPES: Regular, Safety +4 Self-Filling $2.50 and up At Best Dealers L. E. Waterman Company tor Broadwa w York HOW THE PRESIDENT OF THE OKLAHOMA OIL COMPANY FELT WHEN NE TRIED TO CSM A CHECK ON HIS FIRST VISIT IN >. CU (OO > 6 Betvans laa | Hot water wa Sure Relief Boston Chicago bilities. This was manifestly absurd. At length, on the third day, after the long-suffering public had stood the strike as long as it could, the employ- ers harkeyed to the insistent demands fora oraihpe settlement of the trouble. They agreed to meet the employees and to abide by the compromise decision of the government commis- sioner who had been immediately despatched to the seat of the trouble. The compromise agreement was drawn up and signed by hoth parties, this Montreal agreement guaranteeing to the employ ers food, fuel and a place to live it for the ensuing year, and the promise huge government loans with which to pay their employees. The strike was then declared off, but competent ob- servers declare further trouble may be expected at any moment Frank H, Williams THixes that are what they appear to be are so rare that one cannot tell them when one sees them comicbooks.com