Life, 1907-10-10 · page 10 of 24
Life — October 10, 1907 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine presents reader responses to "Who Would Make the Worst President—and Why?" (No. 18). The cartoon illustrates one response, showing two figures in what appears to be a rural or farm setting, with the caption: "CRITICS: YOUR FILE, JOHN D., MAKES MINE LOOK LIKE THIRTY CENTS." The reference is to **John D. Rockefeller**, the oil magnate and one of America's wealthiest men. The satire suggests that Rockefeller's financial empire and controversial business practices make him an unsuitable presidential candidate. The visual joke plays on wealth disparity—one figure sarcastically claims his own file (presumably of misdeeds or scandals) appears trivial compared to Rockefeller's. The various written responses debate presidential qualifications, touching on administrative competence, financial management, and moral fitness for office.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
*LIPE: Who Would Make the Worst President—and Why > No. 18 =. Hughes would make the worst President because the ‘policies of the present incumbent would be sub- jected to the test of a logical and highly trained intellect, and would likely suffer gradual disintegration. The subjection of predatory wealth would be largely left.to the operation of those natural laws which provide that the trees shall not grow unto the heavens. The inherent selfishness and ambition of Tweedledum would be relied upon as in the past to check similar tendencies in Tweedledee, and to maintain a balance of power in financial as in other matters. ‘The Executive would be slow of speech and promise and swift of action to correct evils without submitting to the popular cry for spectacular reform. With these changes would come an abandonment of football and spelling re- form, race suicide agitation and con- troversial conflict with railroad and other magnates, and altogether there would be such a restoration of official dignity and etiquette that the country would no longer be a fit place for reputable anarchists to live in and a monstrous _ revolution would be the result. A. Epwarps. No. 19 A Delphic Answer AS I wandered through a Glen(n) on the Fair-banks of the Plati(e) I heard Bliss-ful music as of a Swan- son(g). Raising up my voice I cried aloud: ‘“O-dell! I pray thee Grant that I may find the maker of this Har(ri)mony and learn from her lips the true report of all the men about Hughes (whose) ears the busy bee doth hum and warn my people of that one that in all the Land-is worst.” Then spoke the spirit of the dell with Cannon-voiced acclaim: “Itisa Longworth-ily cbserved custom that you may not inquire of what the Sibyl doth not of her own ac-Cor(d)tell-you.” “O Shaw,” I said, “thou knowest ’tis but right to get at the Root of the matter and leam beyond dispute W(h)at-son is most unfit for the burden that Teddy bears.” Straightway arose the Sibyl from the Wat(t)ers-on my left and in words worthy of the prophet Daniel thus spoke: “ Till- man be Hearst, and all be in their Graves, till the sea Cle(a)ve-land from land, I am forbid to give reply unto your question, but be not Moody, for you shall know its answer B(r)yan’ by.” D. Hasitton Wittcox. No. 20 P. MORGAN would make the worst President. J. P. Morgan poses as a great and hon- orable financier. You will notice that whenever conditions commence to look bad and we need strong leaders at home, Mr. Morgan is off for Europe enjoying himself. At home the market is in a bad condition, and needs all the powerful men to look after it. After the worst is discounted and things look brighter, Mr. Morgan is back posing as a great finan- cier and leader by relieving people of choice bargains. If he were President he would become ill and take a vacation whenever con- ditions looked bad, and let his assistants do the worrying and take the responsi- bility and blame. When conditions righted themselves and everything looked brighter, Mr. J. P. Morgan would again be well and at the helm during the improving period so as to pose as the great savior. Jacos Rapuaen. No. 21 OOT. Because he would undoubtedly send the Government to Muldoon’s Farm for the next four years to recuperate from its abused, run-down condition. W. K. F. Crassus: YOUR PILE, JOHN D., MAKES MINE LOOK LIKE THIRTY CENTS comicbooks.com