Life, 1912-12-19 · page 9 of 40
Life — December 19, 1912 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This cartoon satirizes **William Jennings Bryan's** potential cabinet appointment under Woodrow Wilson. The caricatured figures appear to be political figures and their associates, with Bryan shown as a central character being presented or discussed. The text criticizes Bryan's suitability for high office, questioning whether he possesses the temperament, judgment, and experience necessary for cabinet work. The satire suggests Bryan is more suited to rural life or wandering in the woods than governing. References to his "bandbox" appearance and lack of serious administrative experience mock his political credentials. The accompanying article expresses skepticism about whether Bryan and Wilson can work together harmoniously in administration, using pointed language to question Bryan's fitness for national leadership.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
andrew: “ Wooby, LAD, 17'S NOT SAY. TRUSTY, MAYHAP FOUR YEARS HENCE I'LL Gin YE mate of how Mr. Bryan would con- duct himself, and what motives would govern him, if he went into Mr. Wil- son’s cabinet. ‘There are those who think that all his efforts and abilities would be engrossed in the high duty of securing to the people the advan- tage of Mr, Bryan's domination in the present administration and his actual control of the executive functions as President following 1916. There are others who believe that he would see a sufficiently good chance to benefit the people without further delay by help- ing to make Mr. Wilson's administra- tion successful, and as a cabinet officer would control his personal aspirations so far as necessary to efficient co- operation to that end, That would be the harder for him because he dis. proves of Mr. Underwood, the Demo- cratic leader, in the House, and is not rded any more by Speaker Clark. 30 while folks who believe Mr. Wilson will invite Mr. Bryan into VLL NO CHANGE MY MI the cabinet have excellent grounds for that expectation, they are no_ better grounded than the folks who guess Mr. Bryan will decline. Mr. Bryan's position with Wilson elected seems considerably like Mr. Roosevelt's position with Taft elected. Mr. Roosevelt had among his effects a serviceable taste for natural history, and got it out and took to the remotest woods in the explored Earth that promised sport. But Mr. Bryan has no opportune taste for natural history, and, besides, he has not had two terms as President, nor even one. And the Earth is an awfully small place unless one goes into the woods, and the ques- tion where Mr. Bryan ought to bestow himsel incerely perplexing. He is too big for a bandbox and too small for a cloud; if he hangs around near the White House it is doubtful if he will be happy, and if he takes to rural life he may fear that he will be for- gotten. Tf Mr. Wilson does pretty BUT GIN YF'LL NO THROW A STUCK 0" CANDY LIKE WULLY HAS YON u.s.steel] COMPANY, STANES AT YON boG, well, intelligent and patriotic self- interest may make an irrepressible de- mand on Mr. Bryan, as the seven little Governors did on Mr. Roosevelt, to bust his party in two and head one wing of it. And so Columbia, so long content with political twins, may find quadruplets in her lap! Who can tell? This much is to be said: In cracking a nut of this sort calculation must he based on. the in- most personality of the leader consid- ered. We try to guess, not what he will wish to do because this or that happens, but what ke must do becaus: he is what he is. W immediate reckon, not with causes, oF uses, oF words, or events, but on habits of mind and will as the record shows them, It Mr. Bryan must try to be the Demo- crtic leader and perpetual candidate. he can hardly work harmoniously for long under Mr. Wilson. If anythin: less than that satisfies him, it may be possible to provide it comicbooks.com