Life, 1916-09-21 · page 21 of 44
Life — September 21, 1916 — page 21: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page defends President Woodrow Wilson's re-election (likely 1916) against challenger Charles Evans Hughes. The text uses an extended metaphor comparing Wilson to a "mongoose"—useful for killing dangerous "snakes" (monopolies, corrupt banking, railroad power, the tariff system). The cartoon titled "The Sirens" shows a voter tempted by alluring female figures representing distractions from his duty—likely references to competing political appeals or scandals meant to sway his vote. The author (possibly Ida Tarbell, mentioned by name) argues Wilson genuinely represents ordinary people's interests, unlike Theodore Roosevelt, who merely occasionally fought corruption while socializing with the wealthy elite. The piece contends that Wilson's four years of presidential experience and proven progressive action outweigh Hughes's inexperience, despite both candidates claiming progressive credentials. The final section warns that unchecked labor power could itself become a "snake" requiring presidential restraint.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ments of the prosperous. At the start he would not fight in Mexico to de- fend American investors; he would not take sides with Rockefeller in the Colorado strike; he helped reduce the tariff; he alleviated the domination of the money trust; he would not get us into the war, even after the Lusitania, though he did risk doing so, and though all “society” wanted to get in; and he would not side with the rail- roads against the Brotherhoods. So you see his bent. You may not care for a mongoose for a household pet, but a mongoose is a bully little animal to kill snakes. Mr. Wilson is a kind of presidential mongoose. The question about him is not whether he is pretty or has afiec- tionate and endearing ways, but a question of snakes; how many; how big. This man is for the mass of the people. He really is a great demo- crat. He is a good hand to nip the tariff cobra, the banking adder, the railroad boa-constrictor when that is necessary. It is his nature to fight these creatures. It was not Roose- velt’s nature to fight them. He could slash around among them on occasion, but he enjoyed their society, His no- tion of government was always gov- ernment by aristocracy. M! S TARBELL is right. Mr. Wilson is a real Progressive with the necessary bite, the indispensable wiles, and a remarkable gift of public discourse. Mr. Gifford Pinchot, an excellent gentleman with a gift for trees, is a political baby beside him. If we are running short of snakes and want to keep some to stock our zoos we ought to turn Mr. Wilson out. If we think the desires of the mass of the people are getting extravagant and that talent, leading, light and thrift are in danger of missing their wage, we may prefer Mr. Hughes. If we think organized labor is going to grab more than its due, that may seem a reason for bouncing Mr. Wilson. THE SIRENS Voter But, after all, the moment organized labor becomes strong enough to ride over Congress it ceases to be the peo- ple and becomes a detail of privilege and a snake, as dangerous to the mass of us as any other, and as sure as any other to be nipped just where the neck begins by a conscientious presi- dential mongoose. Government is a sad affair, and be- ing President is a sad duty which someone must undertake. Nobody con- tinues very long to make a good job of it, but, other things being equal, a FORGET IT man with four years’ experience at it ought to do rather better than a green hand. Progressiveness is a very different thing from progress. Progressiveness invariably consists in taking some- thing away from large means to be- stow it upon small. But progress often adds to him who hath. It fights catch- as-catch-can and is much less scrupu- lous than progressiveness. There will come times, of course, when progress will sweep progressiveness up into a pan and pitch it out of the window. comicbooks.com