Life, 1912-09-12 · page 14 of 52
Life — September 12, 1912 — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical piece critiques President Taft's veto of a bill allowing Americans to "breathe all the fresh air that comes their way" during daylight hours. The cartoon depicts a young man lounging indolently at his desk, feet up, while a small dog stands nearby—suggesting idle procrastination rather than productive work. Taft's veto message claims he cannot sign without consulting an expert commission, arguing that millionaires would suffer if workers got outdoor time. The satire mocks this as absurdly privileging wealthy industrialists' interests over citizens' basic welfare and fresh air access. The smaller illustration "In a Glass by Himself" appears to further comment on Taft's isolation or self-serving position during the 1912 election year.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ANGUS MMOL SUNALL AD THE YOUNG MAN WHO WAITS UNTIL TO-MORROW fo} M V7 bill is presented, which will not conflict with the interests ne More Veto of my friends, I may consider it—that is, provided they ASHINGTON, August 26, 1912. Roth houses of approve. W. H. Tart, Congress. having unanimously passed the bill permitting American citizens to breathe all the fresh air EAD the newspapers and the world reads with you; that comes their way between the hours of sunrise and read something worth while and you read alone sunset, President Taft returned the following message . with his veto: I return herewith House Bill No. 4 t1 44 without my signature. I have carefully considered the provisions of this bill, and while I believe in a general way that we should all have enough fresh air, before committing myscif nally to this policy I prefer to wait for the report of my expert commission, which is now sitting and ought to be through with its labors in another ten years or so. Mean- while I advocate caution in all things. If I should sign this bill it would unquestionably throw out of employment thousands of millionaires (many of whom are my personal friends and called here yesterday to see me). If peo- ple could get all the fresh air they wanted, the men employed by these millionaires would naturally have to lay off outdoors, and, of course, the millionaires would suffer. Some time or other, when the right kind of a fresh air IN A CLASS BY HIMSELF comicbooks.com