Life, 1912-08-29 · page 14 of 42
Life — August 29, 1912 — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The page features a satirical dialogue titled "On Life's Wire" between two characters: **Lire** and **Mr. Taft** (likely President William Howard Taft, based on the formal title and historical context of Life magazine's political satire). The cartoon depicts Taft as a large head emerging from rocky terrain with a moose nearby—referencing **Theodore Roosevelt's famous 1909 hunting expedition** and the broader split between Roosevelt and Taft's Republican faction. The dialogue mocks Taft's political struggles, with Lire urging him not to abandon his campaign pledges despite poor circumstances. The satire emphasizes Taft's weak political position and suggests he's compromising his principles under pressure—a commentary on his troubled presidency and the growing rift with Roosevelt that would lead to the 1912 party split.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ONE On Life’s Wire iLLO, is that Lir “This is Lir speaking?” “This is Taft.” “Who?” Who is “Taft. You know, the Presi- . dent. : S =! “Oh, Surely. How do you do, Mr. Taft? We haven't forgotten you. What can we do for yo “That's just it, What can you do for me? I'm run- ning again, you know.” ot much, we fear.” What, you're not going back on me entirely, are yous “Tt isn't that, Mr. Taft. It isn’t wl you, but what can you do for yoursel “Oh, Lire, it makes me shudder when you put it that You know there isn’t much I can do at this stage of game.” it we can do for “Perhaps you're right, but why didn't you do it when you had the chance? “Now don't upbraid me, Lire, I know all about it bet- OF THEM SEES \_ RESEMBLANCE ter than you do. If 1 had it to do over again, you know, I believe | would keep some of the campaign pledges I made four years ago.” “Why didn't you?” “Oh, I don't know. I guess it was my judicial tem- Perament, or something like that.” It's too bad, old chap. You had a fine chance.” “Come, Lire, please don't dismiss it with such ax air of finality. Iam still hoping, in spite of a noticeable weak- ness in the knees. can't you put just one or two little things in the paper, showing that Iam not such a bad fellow after all?” “Sorry, your Excellency, but we can’t think of any- thing just now.” “Tf anything favorable occurs to you, will you put it in?” “ Most assuredly, Mr. Taft. Anything we think of.” “So good of you, Lire. You're not promising much, I know, but it’s better than nothing. You have no idea how I long to hear some of those hearty, spontaneous cheers which followed my smile around in 1908.” “By the way, Mr. t. Where is that smile?” “Don't ask me, Live. It’s a very tender subject with me. If I talk to you any longer I will burst into tears. Good-by.” “Good-by, Mr. Taft. Don’t forget your Thanksgiving Proclamation.” E.On, comicbooiing 1