Life, 1914-03-12 · page 36 of 44
Life — March 12, 1914 — page 36: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains satirical commentary on California Governor Hiram Johnson's progressive philosophy of government. Johnson (associated with the "Bull Moose" Progressive Party) advocated using government to make people "happier" and prioritize human welfare over material concerns. The unnamed satirist mocks this idealism, arguing that government cannot legislate happiness or morality through taxation without becoming tyrannical—comparing it to an unwanted state church. The critique focuses on practical contradictions: Johnson's philosophy will attract those seeking benefits while repelling those with existing resources. The satire particularly targets the gap between rhetoric and reality: Johnson praises the philosophy of 3,500 unemployed women in Los Angeles, yet offers no concrete solution for their employment or survival. The satirist suggests the governor merely wants their votes while offering only praise. The cartoon attacks Progressive-era paternalism as benevolent coercion dressed in idealistic language.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
100,000 ND this is also the reason why the Turtle became Jack Pepper's “lobbygow.’’ And why a mere slap in the face interfered with the sale of a railroad. For a thrilling story of New York life that’s different, read “On the Minute.” It’s by George Randolph Chester. And there’s something doing every second. Dramatic? Well, we should say so! Original? Yes, again! And different? Absolutely! Please don’t forget that. It’s in the MARCH GRAFT DEPENDED ON THIS! vérybodys agazine The New Philosophy of Government OVERNOR BULLMOOSE HI- RAM JOHNSON of California says that women are to be credited with the new philosophy of govern- ment which sets human above material things. He said so to the Wom Council at Sacramento, that “this new philosophy believes that the government's purpose is to make people happier; to make them better; that the only successful government is the one which docs this", Government's Quite right, Governor. purpose is to make people happier, but you cannot do that long by putting the gospel into the statute book, and en- forcing it by taxation, You would not hear of a state church supported by tax ution, would you? But you propose to compel your taxpayers to support a sys- tem of benevolence, That is what the kind of government you praise amounts to. You intend to make the people who have more do their duty by the people who have less as you see it. What will happen? California will be very attractive to people who have everything to gain, and will look more and more dubious to folks who still have something to lose. What about the thirty-five hundred unemployed (and starving?) people, in- cluding many women and girls, regis- tered in the municipal employment bureau in Los Angeles, none of whom are willing to work as servants! Will you get work and wages for them, or put them on the free list, or will you merely praise their philosophy and ask for their votes? “Tue world’s great’ men have not commonly been great scholars, nor its great scholars, great men.” —O. W. Holmes. CONTREXEVILLE SOURCE DU PAVILLON WATER A PALATABLE NATURAL MINDRAL WATER YOR EVERY-DAY USE, PARTICULARLY POR THOS WITH ACID EXCESS YOU DO NOT HAVE. URIC ACID TROUBLES RHEUMATISM GOUT GRAVEL, IF YOU USE CONTREXEVILLE WATER ~ASK YOUR PHYSICIAN- ‘A. qlassfal before breaklast and another before fing fon thr pert a yo wil bere our Grocer or Druggtst and stan int fun for Th comicbooks.com