Life, 1912-11-21 · page 16 of 44
Life — November 21, 1912 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This Life magazine page satirizes the 1908-1909 polar exploration rivalry between Frederick Cook and Robert Peary—both claiming to have reached the North Pole—by imagining them elected President and Vice-President. The satire mocks their credibility and inflated ambitions. The cartoon jokes that these explorers would govern absurdly: rewriting the Constitution weekly, issuing propaganda through government newspapers, mandating Turkish baths in tenements, and forcing reporters to tell truth (Cook's "pet theory," implying he wouldn't). References to abolishing poverty and creating endless national holidays mock utopian campaign promises. The cartoon of the sick patient represents the nation's economic troubles (the 1907 panic). Ex-President Taft's comment that Providence has averted disaster through Cook and Peary's leadership is heavy irony—suggesting these unqualified men are laughably unfit to lead. The satire's core: these arctic celebrities are completely unqualified for governance despite public enthusiasm.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
2240 -LIFE: and President Cook and Vice-President Peary are re writing the constitution to suit modern needs. While there is still some difference of opinion on one or two minor points, the main issues are clearly defined. The plan of revising our platform every day during the campaign met with such great success that this plan will be carried out with the constitution, But in the case of such a sacred document, we deem it best to be a little more conservative, and it will be revised only once a week. The Government will hereafter issue its own newspa- per, and thus deal directly with the people. Our great reputation for veracity is such,” said Presi dent-elect. Cook, “that we cannot afford to take any chances. So we are going to have our own medium. My messages to the plain people. which under no circum stances will ever be over thirty thousand words in length. will thus be issued in their pure and original form. We recommend all State governments to do the same.” “The office I hold now,” said Vice-President Peary, “has always been considered a joke, but I propose to make it dignified if I have to insult everybody in sight.” Both statesmen spent yesterday morning in revising the labor laws. From this date on every other day will be a national holiday, of which it has been generally recog- nized there are too few. Every tenement house will be required to have a Turkish bath. All reporters will be compelled to tell the truth. “This is a pet theory of mine,” said President Cook. The election of Cook and Peary has been received with acclamation by the people everywhere. The duty on sponges, tooth picks, and hard tack has been removed; and immediate relief has been felt. =@-)_ jill ad Co i wrencnyy | + i Doc: VM QUITE NONPLUSSED. 1 CAN MAKE NOTHING OUT OF YOUR CASE AT ALL. Patient (brightening up): ny Jove, poc, po you REALLY MEAN THAT? THAT IRRESISTIBLE INCLINATION Ex-President Taft, when seen yesterday playing golf on his Cincinnati farm, said: “That panic—which would have come under Wilson or Roosevelt—has been averted hy an act of Providence. With Cock guiding us and Peary relieving him at the wheel, there is nothing but plain sailing ahead.” Late last night President Cook gave out an interview in which he said “Tt will take a little time to introduce all our reforms —to abolish poverty, reduce the cost of living, and re- store tranquillity to the American people. But I think at the end of my fourth term everything will be all right.” “Well, if it isn't,” said Vice-President Peary, “ vou ur search both of us.” Books of the Hour HE Osteopath’s Favorite Fiction—The Trail of the Lones comicbook $.CO