Life, 1920-01-29 · page 28 of 38
Life — January 29, 1920 — page 28: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This 1920s-era *Life* magazine satire mocks labor union strategy during a strike for higher wages. The narrative presents a circular economic argument: workers strike for more money, so employers raise prices of goods to cover wage increases, which increases cost of living, forcing another strike—an endless cycle. The top illustration shows a landlady confronting a tenant about rent. The bottom sketch depicts what appears to be a workplace or union meeting discussing strike strategy. The satire's target: union leadership promoting strikes without considering inflationary consequences. The piece argues that wage increases don't improve workers' actual purchasing power—prices simply rise accordingly. The President and Secretary characters represent labor officials who dismiss these concerns, insisting workers should "get theirs" without acknowledging economic realities. The joke: workers chase their own tails economically.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Coming Down from the Air inum wrist-watel lied the President we strike for more m Was seated y-horses will have to he wages e-hundred-dollar twelve r cravat and President's eves. The who carve the only thirty. « unskilled w rs and attach ly fourteen « © car on such wag charging » in the air,” Then the nd the theatre r in order y with which to b 1 cir children, will have to the pric lities om. Then the m striking will t hat will mean that again, Then pr ice More, and tl 1 the r nd the What if y else in tro to think a Don't le tir! Let th We'll strike!”