Life, 1907-05-16 · page 13 of 36
Life — May 16, 1907 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a faux-official proclamation satirizing a political figure (the signature appears to be Theodore Roosevelt based on historical context of Life magazine). The satire mocks the author's delayed action on tariff reform despite claiming it as a priority. The humor lies in the self-aware admission that various trivial matters—college athletics, spelling reform, race suicide prevention, and military promotions—took precedence over addressing what the author calls "the real basis of the corrupting power of our Money Kings": the tariff system. The sarcasm escalates when the author admits he might break friendships with senators and even Speaker Cannon to address this "grave public question," yet admits this confession itself interferes with his plans to name a successor as President. The satire critiques political procrastination and misplaced priorities in high office.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“Teh EB HA Proclamation To the People oj the United States of America: The Congress is hereby summoned to assemble in the Capitol at Washington on Monday, the thirty- first day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and seven and in the year of the Inde- pendence of the United States of America the one hundred and thirty-first, there to deliberate and take meas- ures to relieve the people of this country from the oppression and tyranny of an iniquitous ‘Tariff. I am aware that this action should have been taken long ago, but I have been too busy and, furthermore, I have had no desire to offend persons who have been liberal contributors to my party in politics. I assure the people of the United States that I have not been deterred from action in this matter by any fear of dis- turbing business conditions and lessening the prevalent prosperity. I have been controlled up to date only by the same reverent spirit which makes every good Republican hold the Tariff as sacred as is Juggernaut to his worshippers. At last my eyes are opened to the fact that the Tariff is the real basis of the corrupting power of our Money Kings. + ‘The delay in this matter has been caused by the consideration of such important and urgent public busi- ness as the regulation of college athletics; the reform of spelling; the discouragement of race suicide; the proper rewarding by military promotion and civil appointment of my gallant comrades in arms known as the Rough Riders; the guidance of the people in the selection of my successor as President; the advancement of the personal fortunes of General Leonard M. Wood; the adjustment of delicate diplomatic relations with the Papal Court, and a number of equally grave public questions altogether too numerous to mention. arift even if I have to break personal and political friendship with every representative of a Trust in the United I shall relieve the people of the unjust and unevenly distributed burden of taxation imposed by the 1 States Senate, even with Senator Aldrich himself, even with Speaker Cannon of the House of Representatives. Tat last fully appreciate the power of the ‘Tariff as a corrupter of our political life and as a power to make the rich richer and the poor poorer. I am finally aware that it is a most costly tax to collect, that it inflicts undeserved inconvenience and humiliation on American travelers of both sexes and that the American atti- tude toward works of art makes us the laughing-stock of the world, besides hindering our national education. I confess that I should have attended to this matter sooner, but now I am going to right this wrong, even if it does interfere with my plans to name my successor as President. comicbooks.com