Life, 1904-09-15 · page 7 of 20
Life — September 15, 1904 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This political cartoon satirizes candidates' desperate pursuit of swing voters during elections. The central image depicts a goat labeled "INDEPENDENT VOTE" being chased by multiple figures—representing competing politicians—in an undignified scramble. The goat, an animal associated with stubbornness and unpredictability, symbolizes voters who refuse party loyalty. The satire mocks how politicians treat the independent voter as a prize to be "caught" through manipulation rather than genuine persuasion. The chaotic scene suggests the unseemly nature of this political pursuit. The title "Their Only Chance" indicates that courting these swing voters represents candidates' last hope for electoral victory, highlighting how crucial the independent vote had become in American elections during this era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Their Only Chance. *\ JERY sorry I cannot employ you, sir,’ id the merchant, ‘* but you're too old. “Why,” returned the applicant, ‘I'm in perfect health, strong, in full pos- session of my faculties, and only forty-eight—in my prime." ‘* Have you tried the railroads, banks, insurance companies—yes, everywhere? None of them want you? Yes—you're too old! Must have young heads, young ability.” “But what is a man of my age and THE OLO GAME “CATCH THE INDEPENDENT voTE.”” in splendid condition to do for a living, sir?” “Hem! I don't know. Ab, yes— become a United States Senator or President—just the right age for some- thing of that kind. You'd do all right as President of the United States, but you're not good enough for a book- keeper or street car conductor! Good day!" Henry Waldorf Francis, UR thanks to Mr. George H. Chapin and to Mr, Will Defor- rest for a set of extraordinarily good photographs recently taken by these :'s Farm. These n and its occupants, to appear later in these pages, will be of exceptional interest to all friends of charity. — IRST EDITOR: The Alice Roose- velt Special has just been set up. Seconp Epitor: Then let the paper go to press, asked by a charming young Mrs.: | “Pray, what's the best way to give krs, 2” Then, in spite of her fears, I seized both her ears, And showed her, and said: ** My dear, thrs. 1?” comicbooks.com