Life, 1916-02-24 · page 9 of 48
Life — February 24, 1916 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The main cartoon depicts a figure holding a portrait labeled "It's a Wise Child That Knows His Own Father." The accompanying text criticizes American political leadership, comparing current politicians unfavorably to figures like Lincoln and Grant. The author argues that mediocre politicians now "get ahead" through "scrambling and vociferous" tactics, whereas great leaders once emerged naturally during crises. The satire suggests that American character and leadership have declined—the nation can no longer reliably produce capable statesmen when needed. The "wise child" metaphor implies uncertainty about whether current leaders are truly worthy successors to past giants, questioning the legitimacy of contemporary American political authority and competence.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“LIFE: They would have, nowadays, a different develop- ment, but it need not change their essence. It is not a sound argument that because Washington got ahead in the Revolution and men so very unlike him get ahead now the American stock is debased, or that only scrambling and vociferous politi get anywhere to-day. There were scrambling politicians in Washington's time and they got ahead. But it is impossible to stack the cards of a great country so that great char- acter will not come to its own in times of great need. When the real pinch comes the law of self-preserva- tion asserts itself and power goes to hands strong enough to hold and wield it, and to character lofty enough to be trusted with power. 333 jans can EB. S. M. Lies EVEN German spies who were im- plicated in blowing up ammunition factories were shot yesterday at sun- rise. More will follow. Henry Ford contributed ten millions to the National Security League. A meeting of the National Woman Suffragé Party was held in New York, and after a long debate it was unani- mously decided to disband and make no more efforts to secure votes for women. The presidents of ten leading pow- der and ammunition works appeared before Congress and voluntarily of- fered to turn over to the United States government one half of their profits. This action so stimulated and fired the leading dressmakers of the country with patriotic motives that, in a large body, they also appeared before Con- gress and made a similar offer. It is now stated that there will be ample funds forthcoming to place the de- fences of the country in prime condi- tion, without levying another war tax. Famous Bulls Durham. Run. Attempting the Dardanelles. “11's A WISE CHILD THAT KNOWS HIS OWN FATHER” nor an advertiser, but a great man tried out in long adversity. His per- forge ahead in a national debate as Lincoln did; much less as Bryan did; HE bonds of the father are visited but he might very well have come down the road that opened to Grant. He was a war product; not an orator sonal qualities are no more impossible to a man of the current American breed than they were a century ago. upon the children; aye, even unto the third and fourth generation. comicbooks.com