Life, 1904-10-06 · page 25 of 38
Life — October 6, 1904 — page 25: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This 1908 Life magazine cartoon satirizes Theodore Roosevelt through an extended metaphor about a boy named "Alton" and his animal companions. The large head with "Bryan 1908" written on it represents William Jennings Bryan, the Democratic presidential candidate. The text employs thinly-veiled allegory: "Alton" represents Roosevelt; his stubborn donkey symbolizes the Republican Party; his "little Davy" (monkey) references the Democratic opposition. The commentary mocks Roosevelt's political nature—his desire to "expand" after the election and his unlikely hunting partnership with Mexican President Porfirio Díaz. The satire suggests Roosevelt will remain politically active and unpredictable post-presidency, while ridiculing his potential alliance with the autocratic Díaz. The cartoon criticizes Roosevelt's expansionist tendencies and questions whether he should partner with a foreign authoritarian ruler, using the innocent language of children's activities to deliver pointed political criticism.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
SV i} Uf Y ttle Alton. He is a very quiet child and rarely $s except when he is spoken to, and sometimes not even then, He is fond of animals and plays with his little donkey by the hour, and has been trying to teach it some new tricks, But we all know how obstinate donkeys are, and we are afraid Alton will have a tough time doing this, Alton is also fond of dolls and would be very lonesome without his little Davy, although a monkey on a stick often amuses him greatly. This little boy, we are sorry to say, is not so particular about his companions as he ought to be, But then, it is not because he loves them so much, as because he is really a good boy at heart and hopes to raise them to hislevel. And everybody knows in this respect that there is room for im- provement, Unlike most little boys of his age and politics, Alton loves to be clean. He is never so happy as when taking a bath surrounded by his neighbors. Next March he hopes to move toa new home, and if he does, he will have a natatorium attached to it, where he can swim himself and duck all the little boys who may attempt to tease him. Roosevelt would naturally be desirous of knowing. And Texas is a big State. Aftes election the Republican candidate will naturally want to expand and get into con- dition after four long months of repression. There is room in Texas for him to let himself out, Yet we don’t believe he will go hunting with President Diaz, Somebody would say: ‘‘ Birds of a feather,” and though it isn't going to make much difference what any- body says after election, yet, somehow, we don’t believe these two men of action will hunt together this year. Gen- eral Diaz is a ruler that rules. Constitutions have never bothered him. What it has been necessary to do to give Mexico stable government, he has done, and done well. He is a fine man, and yet he would hardly be a suitable hunt- ing companion for our Président Roosevelt, unless the Democrats carry the election. comicbooks.com