Life, 1912-12-12 · page 11 of 48
Life — December 12, 1912 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This political cartoon satirizes a presidential candidate's sudden transformation into an acceptable figure—hence the "Cinderella" reference. The illustration shows a figure being dressed and primped by attendants, suggesting artificial makeover or staging for public consumption. The accompanying article discusses Congressional pensions for ex-Presidents and mentions Patrick Governor (appears to relate to a pardon controversy). The text critiques how candidates are packaged for voters, comparing the process to Cinderella's magical transformation. The satire suggests that political viability requires cosmetic reshaping rather than genuine qualification—that voters are being sold an artificially constructed image rather than evaluating authentic merit.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
E would not wish to be beholden to Mr. Carnegie for suitable maintenance for our ex-Presidents, but we had just as soon owe it to him to prod Congress up to recognition of what is proper in that direction. The revenues of Mr. Carnegie’s funds are drawn, we suppose, from the iron workers of Pittsburg and the consum- ers of their products. First or last, a large proportion of the people of the country, as patrons of railroads or in some other way, are users of steel and contributors to the coupons that are cut off of the Laird’s bonds. So, nearly CINDERELLA THE STORY OF A FIT CANDIDATE all of us co-operate, in a way, in his gencrosities. But in this matter of Presidential pensions, we had rather that the money came a little more di- rectly out of our pockets, as it would, if Congress voted it. We are going to pay about two hundred millions this coming year to military pensioners. That is because some of them long ago risked life and health in the country’s service. But very few of them took as big chances of losing life or health as our Presidents must in these days. No ex-President who does not want a pension need take one either from Mr. Carnegie or the Government, but at least Mr. Carnegie has provided that no ex-President or his widow shall suffer against his will from want, and, for our part, we do not regret that he has done so. If his action stirs the pride of Congress to a fitter provision, that will be its best possible result. ONSENT to the pardon of Patrick by Governor Dix has not been made unanimous. There is abundant complaint about it for reasons that look good. Consolation for those who need it lies in the recollection that justice has made a mighty good bag during the late open season for male- factors. With Becker and the gun- men, who killed Rosenthal, in jail un- der capital sentences, and Hyde con- victed, there is a little the less reason to repine at Patrick’s enlargement. comicbooks.com