Life — March 14, 1907 — page 6: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Explanation for Modern Readers This page satirizes the Panama Canal construction's mismanagement under President Theodore Roosevelt's administration. The text criticizes the contract bidding process, suggesting Roosevelt rejected the lowest bid in favor of politically favored contractors, then appointed incompetent managers. The central cartoon (marked "PAC") appears to depict a mollusk or incompetent figure—likely representing the canal project's leadership or a specific official mentioned in the accompanying article. The satire targets the contradiction between Roosevelt's stated efficiency and the actual political favoritism corrupting the project. The author argues that while Roosevelt sought "good men," his political allegiances forced compromises that undermined competent administration, ultimately illustrating how politics corrupts ostensibly meritocratic public works projects.