Life, 1915-03-04 · page 41 of 48
Life — March 4, 1915 — page 41: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two distinct satirical pieces: **"Ex-Presidential License"** mocks former President William Howard Taft's stated opposition to government ownership of ships while ignoring his support for numerous other government-owned institutions (roads, schools, fire departments, Panama Canal, Philippines). The satire exposes rhetorical hypocrisy—Taft receives an "ex-President's margin" to contradict himself without accountability. **"An Interview"** features fictional burglar "Mr. Pillowphoot Grabber" defending burglary as legitimate business. This parodies arguments made by wealthy businessmen defending their practices by claiming such work develops character, creates employment (for alarm manufacturers, police, revolver makers), and benefits society. The satire suggests that justifications offered by privileged economic actors (like ship-purchase advocates) mirror those a criminal would use—exposing the moral relativism in such arguments. Both pieces critique how power and rhetoric shield certain groups from scrutiny. The remaining content is straightforward advertising for cigarettes, vacuum cleaners, and ale.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Ex-Presidential License HEN Professor William Howard Taft, discussing President Wil- son’s ship purchase project, says, “I am vigorously opposed to government ownership in any form”, he is, of course, not to be taken with untlue literality. An ex-President is always entitled to a considerable margin of hyperbole for oratorical and rhetorical effect. As a matter of simple fact, President Taft is in favor of lots of forms of government ownership, such as roads and post-offices and schools and fire departments and penitentiaries and navies and forts and custom houses and public buildings of all kinds and parks and Panama Canals and Philippines. and many other things which for the moment we are unable to recall, but which would add nothing essential to the thought. An Interview “TT will be a sad day for this country if the nefarious attempts to regulate burglary are successful,” declared Mr. Pillowphoot Grabber, one of our leading burglars, who sailed yesterday on the Jnsania, “TI know of no business,” he continued, “better calculated to develop initiative, aggressive shrewdness, skill and nerve in our young men. It offers unlimited oppor- tunities, and the returns are good; but, considering the risks involved, they are by no means excessive, The benefits accrue not only to those directly engaged in the business, and it develops courage and presence of mind in householders. Moreover, it is a business which, in its ramifications, gives employment to a great many persons, such as burglar- alarm manufacturers, burglar-insurance companies, policemen, night watchmen, revolver manufacturers, and so on.” Western Electric Vacuum Cleaner The Clean Way to Clean Eventually you will discard the unhealth- ful, destructive broom-and-duster method of caring for your home. ‘What are you going to substitute ? An electric lamp socket will furnish the power at a cost of only a few cents per hour to run anelectric vacuum cleaner. It will profit you to learn something about the care- ful design of the Western Electric vacuum cleaner that has made it the cleaner pre-eminent—about the cimple mechanism that cannot get out of order and requires practically no at- tention. The dust bag rests on a light rigid frame, which makes it easy to handle, and allows the cleaner to be hung away on a closet hook. This Western Electric vacuum cleaner is backed by the world’s largest distributors of electrical supplies. The new model No. 11, here illustrated, is a radical departure in design, and sells for $32.50. You should know about it before you buy. Ask for Booklet No. 4-AK, and the name of our nearest agent. WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY Manufacturers of the 8,500,000 “Bell” Telephones 463 West St., New York Houses in all Principal Cities of the United States and Canada. Agents Everywhere EQUIPMENT FOR EVERY ELECTRICAL NEED brings to the city orcountry home the touch of comfort and content that Softens and humanizes the individual and uplifts him above the day’s strife and toil, It banishes worry and care f ‘with solace and tranquility. | Risen Ue rye sles for Home Hap, Dealers or C,H. EVANS & SONS, Hudeo