muckraker

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Steffens

rjones0859: thanks for the identification of Lincoln Steffens. We will include his full first name in the description when we update.

He was in the NYT at least three times in early 1914: Jan 21, 1914 select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0F17FA3C541273... {very bottom} "$500 Prize for Lincoln Steffens. Andrew Carnegie, Jack London, and James Keeley, judges in the Metropolitan Magazine Shaw contest, have awarded a $500 prize to Lincoln Steffens of this city for the best reply to Bernard Shaw's "The Case for Equality."" Mar 6, 1914 select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F50B16FA355D1373... "Lincoln Steffens, the writer, won much applause by advising the people present to co-operate with others and endeavor to "cure the newspapers of lying" by boycotting all the big daily papers for a week." Apr 11, 1914 select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F50B16FA355D1373... "With the anarchists under Alexander Berkman, the Socialists under Lincoln Steffens, and the I.W.W. agitators under "Wild Joe" O'Carroll, each trying to gain prestige from the meeting to be held in Union Square to-day, Police Commissioner Woods took measures last night to prevent disorder. " More detailed (than Wikipedia) biographical pieces are at www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/Jsteffens.htm www.bookrags.com/biography/lincoln-steffens/ www.findingdulcinea.com/features/profiles/s/lincoln-steff...

This photo looks likely to have been taken on the same day as:


However, the date on the negative on this photo of him seated with hat is 4/21/14.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ida_M._Tarbell Ida Minerva Tarbell (November 5, 1857 – January 6, 1944) "was an American teacher, author and journalist. She was known as one of the leading "muckrakers" of the progressive era, work known in modern times as "investigative journalism". She wrote many notable magazine series and biographies. She is best known for her 1904 book The History of the Standard Oil Company, which was listed as No. 5 in a 1999 list by New York University of the top 100 works of 20th-century American journalism." tarbell.allegheny.edu/treckel.html is an essay on her life by a history professor from Allegheny College, Tarbell's alma mater.

On Jan 19, 1915, she gave testimony at the Federal Commission on Industrial Relations at "the City Hall" according to the NYT of Jan 20, 1915. query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9E02E4DF1E3FE633A... I had immediately thought this picture might have been taken there, since it is clearly in a formal location and she seems to have notes on her lap. However, the NYT reports that she was in a BLACK tailored suit and hat to match and this doesn't seem to be black. But, given that one of the dates on the other photo in this batch is 1/19/15, I am back to thinking this is at City Hall. I am assuming the City Hall is in NYC, because the newspaper article doesn't indicate any other city.

The Walsh Commission: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commission_on_Industrial_Relations

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upton_Sinclair

On April 29, 1914, Upton Sinclair was arrested in New York for parading in front of the office of Standard Oil
See news.google.com/newspapers?id=LhRHAAAAIBAJ&sjid=F3sMA...
and NYT of April 30, 1914
query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9E0CE2DE153DE733A...

so this is related to:

Another 1914 Bain/LOC photo of Upton Sinclair in New York City:

I think so. Sinclair is the right-hand guy in the light suit, judging from the Wikipedia page.

The photo was taken in front of the Tombs prison court, where Upton Sinclair was arraigned and briefly incarcerated.