Life, 1917-03-01 · page 37 of 42
Life — March 1, 1917 — page 37: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This cartoon mocks the hypocrisy and inconsistency of politicians. It depicts a figure who repeatedly changes his conduct and stated principles—first claiming noble ideals, then shifting tactics for party advantage, then for personal profit, then for election prospects. Each time, observers ask "why is he changing?" The punchline reveals the bitter truth: politicians are not genuinely principled but merely adopt convenient pretexts to justify whatever serves their current self-interest. The satire's point: politicians aren't actually fickle about ideals—they simply have no real ideals at all, only resourcefulness in manufacturing justifications for self-serving behavior. This reflects Progressive-era skepticism about political corruption and insincerity, a common theme in *Life* magazine's social commentary.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THEN YE DIDN'T TELL WIM THE TRUTH.” Behold the Politician! EE the Politician!’ How nobly he is conducting himself! Yes. He conducts himself in that noble way for the sake of a great principle. But see! Now he is conducting him- self in a different manner. Yes. He considers it advisable to change his tactics for the sake of his party. But look! He is changing again. Why is that? IN AMERICA—AN ENGLISH INN The Manor Albemarle Park, Asheville, N. C. a “perfectly charming” English Inn, in the Land of the Sky, offering real Southern hospitality, homelike infor- mality and an atmosphere of refine- ment and taste. Perfect Golf ina Perfect Climate (18 Holes Turf Greens) Unusual facilities for all sports the year round, Write for booklet Make reservations TIFFANY & Co. JEWELERS SILVERSMITHS STATIONERS THE QUALITY IS HIGH AND THE VARIETY LARGE THE TIFFANY BLUE Book GIVES PRICES - IT WILL BE SENT UPON REQUEST FIFTH AVENUE & 37! STREET New York Oh, now he is acting for the sake of his pocketbook. How interesting. But look again Once more he seems to be altering his behavior. Oh, yes. Election is approaching. He is now acting for the sake of his job. Does he ever act for the sake of more than one thing at a time? Oh, yes, whenever it is feasible, but he wouldn't allow such a little thing to interfere with the proper pursuit of his ambitions. And doesn’t all this indicate that the Politician is very fickle as to his ideals? Not at all. It merely indicates that he is very resourceful in finding suit- able pretexts for any particular action he may indulge in at any particular moment Improvements? ‘The American Society of Phrenologists at its ‘recent meeting in Philadelphia pre- pared for general circulation a list of terms that may be used as synonymous for “hit on the head,” thus conferring a great favor on those who are always look- ing for something new. Here they are: Drubbed on the dome. Bammed on the bean. Tapped on the conk. Bumped on the beezer. Biffed on the coco. Busted on the cranium. Whiffed on the skull. Cracked on the nut. Nailed on the knob. + Slugged in the belfry. Lammed on the peak. Dinged on the brain-box. —Cincinnati Enquirer. comicbooks.com