Life — October 12, 1916 — page 17: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This political cartoon satirizes the "German-American Vote"—visible on the figure's lap blanket. The central portly woman represents German-American voters, being courted and kissed by two men (likely political candidates or parties competing for their support). The two portrait medallions above suggest competing interests or factions. The cartoon's title, "On the Quiet," suggests this courting happens discretely or hypocritically—candidates publicly distance themselves from certain positions while privately appealing to German-American voters. This likely references the sensitive political position of German-Americans during or around World War I, when their loyalties were questioned and both parties sought their electoral support while the U.S. had complicated relations with Germany.