Life, 1919-03-20 · page 19 of 44
Life — March 20, 1919 — page 19: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes post-WWI American politics through a mock presidential ticket. Life proposes **Henry Ford for President** and **W.J. Bryan for Vice President**—figures who had actually pursued political office unsuccessfully. The satire mocks Ford's industrial ambitions by imagining he'd abolish railroads in favor of Ford cars, and his son Edsel as Secretary of War (ironic, since Edsel apparently avoided military service during WWI). Bryan, a three-time failed presidential candidate who later became Secretary of State, is humorously demoted to vaudeville performer before being offered Vice President. The piece criticizes both men's political aspirations while poking fun at Life's own editorial mission—suggesting they'll keep proposing tickets "until we get one that suits the American people." A separate humor piece jokes about a football coach using wartime equipment (barbed wire, machine guns) to motivate recently-returned soldiers—commentary on how the war's trauma had infiltrated American life.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
of ~ “LIPE- 455 LIFE’S New Presidential Ticket For Vice-President, W. J. Bryan For President, Hesry Foro [ue regrets to state that its former presidential ticket v ved with the wild enthusiasm expected. was not re jowever, we aim to please. We propose to keep on puttin esidential tickets in the field until we get one that suits are willing to do almost anything ¢ American people. We keep down our circulation. We therefore suggest and fvocate that Henry Ford be the next President of the United States, aided and abetted by W. J. Bryan. Mr. Ford has been trying to get into the Senate, but has ot succeeded. It therefore seems to be highly desirable that he should become President. Mr. Bryan succeeded in becoming he salary not being large enough, he was obliged to resign » on the vaudeville stage. As a vaudeville performer even been favorably eretary of State, but is been a great success, and hz ived in his home town in Nebraska. Ltrr’s object in making him Vice-President is to lift that office from the f We hope ed Vice- bscurity into which it has hitherto beer and expect that after Mr. Bry President he will give up the to the movies, This will lend te lent the proper dignity to which Mr. Ford as President needs no introduction. He will probably abolish our railroad systems and use only Ford place, thus insuring a reasonable amount of ifety in traffic. He will also publish his own Bureau of nformation for the public. While Mr. Ford does not wish ng elected, he has given us Zdsel will probal Secre- an has been cle deville stage and take office of Vice-Presi- is fully entitled. cars in th to tie himself up before b private assurance that hi tary of State and Si great record during the be on y of War combined. Edsel’s jast_ war, in which he secured cret: cxemption from the dangers of military service, will be recalled with great satisfaction by the American people. \s our new Seerctary of War he will be an able successor to and perhaps an improvement upon Mr. Baker Making It Homelike RIEND: What makes the football field look so queer to-day? Footpau. Coscu:” C nt you see? We've got a lot of barbed wire strung along our opponents’ fifteen-yard line, several “ Big Berthas” on their five-yard line and a row of machine-gun nests along their goal-line. So many of our team have just returned from the war, and this is the only way that I can get them to put any pep into their offensive. Pretension RETENSION is a kind of velvet cloak I wear to hide my re: al self from view, And yet where’er I meet with other folk T alw s find they wear this garment too. Pretension is a kind of golden veil Behind whose mesh I seck to hide my face, And yet where’er I go I never fail To see that others wear it too with grace. Pretension is a thing I say I hate In both myself and in my dearest’ friend, And yet whene'er I slyly watch and wait rd we all pretend. Ernest Pe I find in some re; cll. * HAT makes you think that Tipton’s wife has him completely under her control?” “T saw him taking luncheon with her the other day in a department-store restaurant.” * SISTERS UNDP THEIR SKINS” comicbooks.com