Life, 1902-04-24 · page 5 of 22
Life — April 24, 1902 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Political Cartoon Analysis: "Lessons in Politics" This page satirizes American political corruption through a dialogue between father and son. The father explains that wealth determines electoral success—poor candidates must sell themselves to the monied class to fund campaigns. He illustrates how the wealthy indirectly control government without holding office themselves. The large cartoon ("God Save the King!") depicts a horseman trampling a common person, likely representing how political authority serves wealthy interests over ordinary citizens. The lower cartoon shows two boys discussing Peggy Williams's broken engagement, with one noting it was "only a silly boy-and-girl affair"—possibly a separate satirical commentary on social pretense. Together, these pieces critique the systemic corruption linking wealth to political power in early 20th-century America.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
345 Lessons in Politics. O, my son. His wealth stands in the way of his being elected to office.” ‘Why in the way, father?” “Because the plain people instinctively hesi- tate to vote political authority into the hands of the monied class, thus to augment the power which wealth in itself inevitably bestows.” “Then the monied class has no voice in the government?" “None, directly. Indirectly they control the government.” ** How may this be, father?’ “It is very simple. No man can be elected to office unless he spends money. Accordingly, the poor man who would be elected has to sell himself to the monied class in order to get funds.’’ “But why must a man spend money in order to be elected?” “There have been times when nothing stood between our country and the defeat of the Republican Party except a vast expenditure of money. Of course our conntry was not to be abandoned, Thus a liot pace was set.” “This explains the attitude of Congress toward Cuba?’ . “* Precisely.” “ But the President's attitude?” “Tho President, my son, was not elected.” Tere Me eat ~ GOY WILLIAMS SAYS YOU USED TO BE ENGAGED “ BUT, JIM, IT WAS ONLY A SILLY BoY-aND-OIRL arrain.” “Gop save THE KINO!" comicbooks.com