Life, 1912-09-05 · page 35 of 44
Life — September 5, 1912 — page 35: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains **testimonial advertising disguised as editorial content**, a common early-20th-century practice. **The Main Content:** Ernest McGaffey's essay argues that American law—particularly criminal justice—is corrupt and ineffective. Judges favor corporation lawyers, appeals are endless and expensive, and murderers escape punishment. By contrast, Canada enforces laws "rigidly and quickly" with minimal crime. His conclusion: he became a Canadian citizen. **The Satire:** Life magazine is mocking American legal incompetence by presenting McGaffey's earnest praise of Canadian efficiency. The implication: American law is so broken that honest citizens flee north. **The Advertisements:** The page features unrelated ads (Eustis, Florida tourism; Republic Staggard Tread tires; a cruise offering). The "These Times" anecdote about Governor Pennypacker appears designed to fill space. **Historical Context:** This reflects Progressive Era criticism of American institutions as corrupt and inefficient—a common theme in Life's satirical commentary on American governance, business, and society.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Our Good Old English Law “Why I Became a Canadian Cit‘zen"” Mr. Ernest McGaffey says in The Mirror: | As a lawyer of about twelve practise in a mid-Western State, J had considerable experience with both its civil and criminal juris prudence. I very early began to ad vise my clients to keep out of the courts, for the reason that the op- portunitics for appeal from court to court, the expense and delays caused thereby, and the labyrinthine com plexities of a system wh nicahties and the curious com- plaisance of the higher courts to corporation lawyers so often de- recourse to the courts mostly a farec. The criminal law was so last tie, istered for, apparenily, the benefit of ; malefactors, that murderers were seldom hung, and crime was appa!) TIRE ingly prevalent. This is true of a majority of the States of the United States. No other country, unless it be Camorra-ridden Italy, can show such a criminal record per thousand. --that gives perfect traction; And of Canada he says: I found here a country and city where the laws are enforced rigidly and quickly, without regard to The Republic Rubber Co. wealth or poverty; where crime is \ Youngstown, Ohio A almost unknown, and the punish- BRANCHES AND AGENCIES IN THE PRINCIPAL CITIES --and double wear 1 1 MOST WIDELY Eustis, Florida LCase The geographical center of the state. 180 REPUBLICSTAGGARD TREAD feet cbove sea level. The Queen City of the PAT. SEPT. 15~22,1908 famous lake region. More than 1000 clear | water lakes in the county. Water commu- | nication with the Atlantic through the world [I] © - : | renowned Ocklawaha and St. Johns Rivers. ment of crime swift and sure; where These Times Long distance telephone, electric lights, public eee edie alct Ex-Governor Pennypacker, discussing climate in United States. Come and inves- civic and commercial honor is hi “In these times one never, as the say- } tigate. This is not a land speculating scheme. where labor troubles are practically ing goes, knows where one is at. An j For Booklets or other information address unknown; where freedom is real, acquaintance of mine extended his hand not imaginary ; where the people are to me at the Historical Society the other | EUSTIS BOARD OF TRADE the actual rulers, not mere pawns in day and cried: ] the bands of political gamblers “* Congratulate me! Tam the hap- | Tae ies piest man alive!’ ORIENT CLARK'9 FIVTEENTIL ANNUAL __This being true, small wonder the “T looked at him doubtfully. ait CRUISE, Febronry 15. 78 care. $400 Canadians shrank from too much Engaged, marricd or divorced?’ f at, delves, guides lacuded, F.C. CLARK, Times Bldg., New York reciprocity. New York Tribune. 1735, | un comicbooks.com