Life, 1892-10-13 · page 12 of 14
Life — October 13, 1892 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Life Magazine Political Satire Page Analysis This is a mock endorsement of a satirical presidential ticket featuring Ward McAllister (a wealthy New York socialite) for President and Albert E. Wettin (Prince of Wales) for Vice President. The humor relies on absurdist contrasts between candidates of ridiculous qualifications and real 1880s politics. The "Campaign Notes" mock endorsements from implausible groups: George Francis Train (a known eccentric), a poverty-stricken tenement association, and a barbers' union supporting tariff positions. Life sarcastically claims their Fifth Avenue straw poll shows McAllister winning overwhelmingly, and jokes about election fraud ("bosses have been properly seen"). The Annie Sawdust rumor and editor's denial of wanting a cabinet position are self-referential jokes about Life's own editorial bias and ambitions. The page satirizes both Gilded Age wealth inequality and corruption in contemporary electoral politics through exaggerated, obvious fakery—highlighting how absurd real political compromises actually were.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
LIFE’S TICKET. For President, For VICE-PRESIDENT, WARD MCALLISTER, ALBERT E, WETTIN, Of New York and Newport. Of Wates, Campaicn Notes, WE now estimate that our candidates will have at least 603 votes in the Electoral College. Both the Democratic and Republican national committees have practically given up the contest and are only keeping their headquarters open for the purpose of giving employment toa few broken down politicians who would otherwise be compelled to go to the poor-house. EORGE FRANCIS TRAIN has come out flat-footed in favor of our ticket, and is making arrangements to stump the Chinese wards of San Francisco in its behalf. ONCE mote we are compelled to deny the absurd story, that the head of our ticket puts snuff on his ice cream. This report, together with a number of others that reflect on his integrity, are the vain inven- tions of the hireling crew paid by English manufacturers to frame slanders against one of the purest and noblest gentlemen that the light of day ever shone upon, HE No Rent and Three Cent Reer Association of Hester Street have passed resolutions endorsing our ticket and pledging to its support the votes of such of its members as may be out of the peniten- tiary on Erection day. UR candidates have pronounced themselves in unmistakable terms ‘on the subject of woman's suffrage. They are both in favor of giving the franchise to every woman who can prove that she never wore a theatre hat or chewed gum in church. SUBSCRIPTIONS to the campaign fund come pouring in. Money thus received will not be used for the purchase of votes except in extremely doubtful districts, It will be used mainly to provide at our office cigars and champagne for visiting statesmen, Every dollar will be placed where it will do the most good, and friends of the ticket need not hesitate to subscribe freely. HE conductor of Fifth avenue stage number 826 took a straw on the five o'clock up trip last Wednesday. He sends us the result, which is as follows: Cleveland, 4, Harrison, 1, Weaver, 214, McAllis- ter, 932. The half vote, he explains, was cast by a dude who was too languid to cast a full one, A. B, You need not be nervous about the Tammany vote. They are doing a good deal of talking for Cleveland, but they'll vote all right. The bosses have been properly seen. : HE Weehawken Barbers’ Protective Union, having learned that our candidates are in favor of a reduced tariff on Sea Foam, have declared in favor of McAllister and Wettin. ANNIVERSARIES OF THE OctoneR 12, 1492. COLUMBUS DISCOVERS AMERICA, HE rumor that Archie Sawdust, the well-known wholesale dealer in green-goods, will be appointed Secretary of the Treasury in case of the election of our ticket, we have not been able to verify, Mr. Sawdust is very popular in the country districts, and we have no doubt the appointment would give great satisfaction. THE statement appearing in one of our corrupt contemporaries to the effect that the only reason LIFE supports McAllister and Wettin is because its editor is slated for the English Mission we emphatically deny. Our motives are of the most purely patriotic nature, and we would accept nothing short of a cabinet position. AWS " ene ASS “PA, WHO WAS THE OLD WOMAN WHO LIVED IN A SHOE?” “SHE WAS ORIGINALLY A New YORK GIRL WHO MARRIED A CHICAGO SHOEMAKER, AND WAS LEFT A WIDOW WITHOUT & comicbooks.com