Life — August 15, 1912 — page 8: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Political Context of Life Magazine, August 13, 1912 This page satirizes New York City politics and crime. The main text discusses Mayor Gaynor's inability to control the Police Department despite "wonderful" leadership, questioning what "higher Up" (likely the Mayor or city government) truly governs New York. The cartoon features a skeletal figure labeled "Santa Claus, Colonel Bogey, or The Adversary"—representing corruption or evil—suggesting these mysterious forces secretly control the city instead of elected officials. A separate brief mentions Rev. Robert MacArthur's sermon about evil, and includes a congratulatory letter to Colonel Roosevelt from "Wallace Batchelder," likely referencing Theodore Roosevelt's 1912 presidential campaign. The overall tone mocks New York's actual governance amidst public claims of reform.