Life, 1901-02-21 · page 8 of 20
Life — February 21, 1901 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Life Magazine: "Life's Hall of Fame" This satirical page features William McKinley's examination for entry into Life's "Hall of Fame." The bust portrait on the left represents McKinley, the sitting U.S. President (suggesting this dates to his administration, 1897-1901). The accompanying dialogue mocks McKinley through questions about his work for "syndicates" and his appearance ("I have to look pleasant"). The satire suggests his devotion to business interests over presidential duties. The right-side cartoon depicts two figures (appearing to be politicians or diplomats) discussing the Philippines—referencing American imperial expansion following the Spanish-American War. The caption's joke about "crossing the Delaware" invokes George Washington, implying McKinley's actions lack patriotic legitimacy. Overall, the page critiques McKinley's presidency as serving corporate interests rather than national principles.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
-LIFE- “Ah, yes. (um happy to announce that the slight disturbance which has called into action a few of our noble troops in those of our far-off Pacific possessions has at last been happily ended. Peace and plenty now prevail, and onr glorious flag— “Hold on, or, this is no party platform. Tell us what you did before you took your present place.” “Twas in business for myself.” * Were you successful ?" “No! The o: time I have been successful is when. “ if ‘ T have work ———N\ yy LLIFF'S Hall of Fame has grown s0 in ( i 4 popularity that many alterations and enlargements hh had to.be made from time to time to accommodate the increased member- “What kind of China do you prefer?" ship. It has finally been thought necessary to “ The brittle kind.” open up a transient department, and the a “Tf you could mal h, and that wish would didate this week, as soon as his examination — be granted, what would you wish for?” papers have been duly signed, will go into “LT would abolish the prejudice against a third term.” this new wing. “That will do, Major. Step up and take your place.’ There was some dispute among the Board of Governors as to whether he should be placed in this department, some of them declaring that he more lasting claim upon our recogni- tion. The matter was finally turned over to the Honorable Benjamin Har- rison, who said that as long as his head couldn't be cut off at once, he ought to | be a transient by all means ; that he himself, when he was President, was a transient, and that it w y after he left the chair, and be making speeches and writing for the magazines, that he had any hope for immortality. And he thought every other President should be treated in the same way. So this week’s candidate isa transient, and will remain a transient, unless he does something during the next four years to entitle him to more privileg The chances of this are thought to be so remote, however, that they are not worth considering. Here is the examination : Exiupit If. Witttam McKIniey. « Your name is: * William the PI “TL work for a synd “Is your job a steady one?” “Tt has been, and probably will be as log as I vork for my employers’ interests.”” “Do you have much to do?” “ Well; T have to look pleasant.”” “Do you believe in pensions ? “Oh And amid our many other cares and duties, we should not forget thoso brave sons of the : nation, who, in time of peril, took up arms for—" Mr. Morris : 90 YOUR RXCELLENCY 18 NOT APRALD OF ICE WATER. i 6 +0) Gen, Washington: No, 1 RATHER LIKE IT SINCE I CROSSED THE DELAWARE ough, William, How about the Philippines? "* THAT NiGHT. comicbooks.com