Life — October 5, 1916 — page 20: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a satirical cartoon about the 1912 U.S. presidential election, depicting the race as a carnival or circus spectacle. The central figure is a decorated horse labeled "ROOSEVELT," suggesting Theodore Roosevelt's prominent role in splitting the Republican Party via his Progressive "Bull Moose" Party candidacy. The cartoon mocks the election as theatrical entertainment rather than serious governance. Various figures represent different political factions and their characteristics—labeled with qualities like "Stupidity," "Lucre" (greed), and "Capacity." The carnival imagery (performers, a carriage, circus-like atmosphere) implies the candidates and issues are frivolous spectacle. At top, a spider holds a ball labeled "High Cost of Living," suggesting this genuine concern is merely being manipulated. The sign listing candidate qualities and their "riders" satirizes how each candidate embodies specific flaws or is controlled by particular interests. Overall, the cartoon expresses cynicism about the election's substance and integrity.