Life, 1914-02-12 · page 33 of 44
Life — February 12, 1914 — page 33: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This poem by Arthur Guiterman satirizes congressional corruption through the cautionary tale of "Legislator Marsh," a naive Western lawyer sent to Congress by political bosses. The satire shows Marsh's moral decline: initially idealistic about serving the people, he learns to obey his bosses to secure re-election. When a broker sends him an unsolicited profit check, Marsh accepts it as legitimate. This "tainted pelf" helps him rise to the Senate, but his benefactors later blackmail him with vouchers, forcing him to abandon his principled stance against taxing corporations. Guiterman's final couplet delivers the punch: experienced legislators avoid this trap not through ethics, but pragmatism—they take bribes directly in cash or avoid them entirely, rather than leaving incriminating paper trails. The poem critiques both the corruption system itself and the complicity of politicians who rationalize accepting bribes as standard practice. *The right page is advertising for Jones Speedometers and is unrelated.*
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Rhymed Reviews The Price of Place (By: Samuel G. Blythe. George H. Doran Co.) NE’S judgment shouldn’t be too harsh On congressmen, ambition-goaded, Like Struggling Legislator Marsh Who didn’t know that check was loaded. The bosses marked him for their own And duly had him sent to Congress—- A Western lawyer, all unknown To Fame, that reputation-mon'ress. To Washington our hero went Aglow with patriotic fervor, Resolved (the poor, young innocent!), To be an A-1 people-server. But, fearful of the double-cross, He learned to walk with circumspec- tion; For if he didn’t mind his boss He couldn’t get a re-election. Still worse, his foolish, selfish wife, Of higher, matters quite unheedful, Was bound to shine in Social Life, Which made a lot of money needful. A broker, whom he barely knew, Sent Marsh a_ check, explaining merely, “T took a little plunge for you And here’s the profit. Yours sin- cercly.” The needy Marsh convinced himself That this was straight by rule and tenet; He gaily banked the tainted pelf Increased in fame and reached the Senate. But when he vowed he'd take the floor With Dan'l Webster-like orations To argue eloquently for A bill to tax the corporations, His Masters hissed, “Suppose we should Decide to publish Certain Vouch- ers?” And Marsh just whimpered, “I'll be good! "— He dared not fight those money- pouchers. This practice,—taking checks,—is rash; All seasoned legislators flout it; They either get their graft in cash, Or school themselves to do without it. Arthur Guiterman, Consider Our Service a Part of this Speedometer IEN you buy a Jones Speedometer your purchase includes not only an instrument you can bs upon for accurate readings, but a Service that is equally dependable. As this is now a Johns-Manville product, we are able through our 49 established Service Branches to make adjustments, replacements and, in case of accident, speedy and efficient repairs on the Jones Speedometer Centrifugal Principle And because of the great Beat cope of this Johns. variations in temperature and needs no complex Manville Service, throughout the United States and compensating mechanism. Canada, the Jones Speedometer is as convenient- To the accuracy of the Jones Speedometer have efficiently kept in as perfect running con- been added many noteworthy refinements of detail, as your watch. such as ae Saseieaice tp eset, ree. sendy 4 n- pointer and ¢ jace u at is easily reac from Fede Pals conned by a coniaiout’ une the tonneau ofthe ca. broken, metal-to-metal drive with the road wheel. Finally the Johns-Manville Tag, attached to each And because the Jone is non-magnetic it is im- Jones Speedometer, guarantees the instrument. If you mune from magnetic influences. Fer the feson want os kind of Guarantee and Sewie init that it ga ets the unalterable mechanical upon Jones equipment. Write nearest Branch for law of ‘ceatnfugel force. # is ao unaflecied by beotlet. Reliable Service Always Within Reach Service Branches (uty Leg beret ‘Teal Jones inbdiog ON go0 Halsey Stet 00) 7 TES, sad pea ag SEE ag oT , pe REE, eo ae ee, ST a TT ce pamnON, mt uuapeuryin Pa vom aaa ae Kool, pile pases Somvtreme Framealeyee Siena, SF Svernans aera Lp Load ET LO aang A PT. auurmros, peas Peruse (aust ea ian: ‘$000.11 Bernd Beret ‘22 Feet Beret MONTREAL, QCR. sostox, ore eh Soret 10 Mamchcets novonrox, sien. Rastace Beret mr ract wine. YAYQRUY ERR. C- “aS Rout oe aug Lane cry, tran SEXZIEO, MAR ‘fa beh mo Peeverri Po sax mavens, ca, | This fit is being Oeil teper Avex. Maa Res ‘owes steadily increased H. W. JOHNS- MANVILLE CO. Manufacturers and Marketers of Brake Lining, Spark Plugs, Electric Lamps, Speedometers, Horns, Fire Extinguishers, Carburetors, Dry Batteries, Vaporizers, Auto Locks, Fuses, Tapes, Packings, ae 0) comicbooks.com