Life, 1914-08-13 · page 28 of 40
Life — August 13, 1914 — page 28: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page critiques the *San Francisco Argonaut*, a publication attacking President Wilson's administration (particularly his Mexico policy) while claiming Wilson is bound by the Democratic platform of 1912—which pledged a single presidential term. Life's argument: a convention's declaration only binds until the *next* convention meets. If the 1916 convention renominates Wilson, it effectively nullifies the 1912 pledge. Therefore, the *Argonaut's* claim that Wilson "stands committed" against a second term is logically flawed—it's merely a convention's say-so, not a constitutional mandate. The cartoon "An Arabian Night Tale" (top right) depicts burglars finding a how-to book on entering drawing-rooms—a joke about criminals using instruction manuals, possibly paralleling the *Argonaut's* reliance on outdated political arguments. The "First Burglar" illustration below satirizes similar misguided logic: criminals consulting a handbook for guidance they should already possess.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
272 Bad Dreams of the Argonauly HE faithful subscribers who pay our brother, the San Francisco Argonauty, for gnawing the file of the Wilson administration, get a faithful regular return for their money. The Argonauty gnaws a little every week, breaking bits out of its teeth now and then, but taking that in good part. Its great topic is Mr. Wilson’s terrible misconduct with Mexico, but it is faithful also to the other scandals. As a journal of criticism it ought to be perfectly satisfied with a President who gives it so much to say. No doubt it is satisfied, but it pre- tends to be anxious to get rid of Mr. Wilson, and in its issue of July ith it sets forth solemnly that of course he won't serve butone term be- cause of the plank in the Democratic platform of 1912 which reads: We favor a single Presidential term, and to that end urge the adop- tion of an amendment to the Con- stitution making the President of the United States ineligible for re-clec- tion, and we/pledge the candidate of this convention to this principle. Because of this platform declara the Argonauty finds that Mr. Wilson “stands committed against a second term for himself or anyone else”. So? Well, for argument’s sake, have it so; but, as we see it, a convention's say-so ion First Burglar: 'VveRYTHING’s LOCKED UP ON THIS SIDE, BILL “COME AROUND TO THE FRONT, THERE'S A CHAPTER IN THIS HERE ROOK ON ‘HOW TO ENTER A DRAWING-ROOM’” AN ARABIAN lasts only until another convention is called, and if.Mr. Wilson is com- mitted against a second term he is committed only during the period which the convention of 1912 covers; four years, that is, from’ the date of the platform. If the convention of 1916 should renominate him, that would demolish so much of. the plat- form of the convention of 1912 as seems to anybody to weigh against re- nominations. So the dictum of the platform of 1912 simmers down to this: “We favor a single Presidential term, and + Pledge the candidate of this convention not to run again unless renominatéd.” The suggestion of the platform to amend the Constitution and make Presidents ineligible for re-election seems not as yet to have interested NIGHT TALE anyone qualified to get anything done about it. If the Argonauty approves that suggestion, now is the time to take hold. E. S. M. Things We Have Noticed HAT the workmen were perfectly contented until the I. W. W. came around. That the operation was entirely suc- cessful, but the patient lacked rallying power. i That the stenographer got in wrong. That the preacher resigned in order to devote himself to literature. That it was a typographical error. That you can’t depend upon watches nowadays. And that the party would have won if our advice had been followed. Amos R. Wells.