Life, 1915-10-07 · page 15 of 52
Life — October 7, 1915 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This cartoon mocks New York State's deteriorating constitutional framework around 1915. The title "Americanus Sum" (Latin: "I am American") ironically presents a ragtag line of characters representing various social problems—including what appear to be vagrants, immigrants, criminals, and other marginalized figures—as the "sum" or total of American society. The accompanying text satirizes well-meaning reformers attempting to fix New York's "old Constitution" through piecemeal repairs. The article humorously proposes absurd legislative "solutions" (limiting street populations, deporting criminals to Georgia, restricting women). The joke: America's constitutional system is so broken and cobbled-together that it produces this dysfunctional citizenry. Reform efforts are futile Band-Aids on systemic failure.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
-ETPE- at AMERICANUS “HyYPHEN! HyPHEN! New York’s New Constitution SOME of the ablest New York statesmen, politicians and lawyers have been getting themselves together recently for the purpose of discovering a new Constitution for this already long-suffering State. The old Constitution is a good deal out of repair. The bearings are worn down so that it won't go up any kind of a grade; you have to get into it from the rear. The surface is worn threadbare. When it was first acquired it was second-hand, and it has been bought and sold so many times since that it is really cheaper to get a new one. So Mr. Root and some others are assembling the parts, and, with the help of some of the editorial writers, hope to produce a new constitutional machine that will have at least three speeds forward, and in crowded places will, if necessary, be able to slow down to four miles an hour. It is hoped to get out of it about nine or ten miles on the level for every gallon of hot air. There being no immediate prospect of an increase in the price of hot air, it is hoped when the new Constitution is ready for business that the cost of maintaining it will not be more than heretofore. While we have no desire to embarrass Mr. Root and his more or less able associates with any superfluous sugges- Sum WHO's COT THE HYPHEN?” AVR wae tions, our own idea of a Constitution for the State of New York is about as follows: This Constitution ordained this day of » 1915. Articte I. The number of people, including men, women and children, run over in the streets during the next year shall be limited to ten thousand. Any person exceeding this limit shall do so at his own risk. Articte II, All department-store proprietors who suc- ceed in robbing a large proportion of the poor people of their city of their little all shall be sent to Georgia to be lynched. Articte III. The total amount of the State debt shall be apportioned among the politicians and contractors of the State for them to pay. Artictz IV, Only those men shall hold office under the State who have previously demonstrated that they can earn a living doing something else. * Articte V. The number of “ladies” shall hereinafter be restricted to one hundred from each Congressional district. Articte VI. All society columns shall be abolished. comicbooks.com