Life, 1919-09-11 · page 17 of 48
Life — September 11, 1919 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains cynical commentary on American politics circa World War I era. The top cartoon shows a man anxious about explaining something to his wife—likely referring to political corruption or embarrassing behavior he'll need to justify at home. The main text argues politicians are inherently corrupt: they seek power through deception rather than genuine service, exploiting public ignorance and patriotic sentiment to control votes. The dialogue between two "political incumbents" suggests that advancement in politics inevitably leads to criminality—one warns the other that greater political success would land him in jail, implying corruption is systemic. The smaller cartoons address international affairs: "Little Japan" warns John Bull (Britain) and Uncle Sam (America) that Korea will face Japanese control; "Miss Democracy" struggles to start an old vehicle labeled "League of Nations," suggesting post-WWI international cooperation efforts are stalled or failing. The overall message critiques politicians as self-serving fraudsters while democracy itself appears broken.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“WHAT WILL YOU SAY TO YOUK WIFE, OLD MAN?" Jus Politics PoLtcs was first invented by a man who wanted to get something for nothing. Politics is not even sales- manship, for salesmanship presupposes that you have some- thing to sell. The politician depends upon the indifference and inat- tention of those who employ him, He therefore devotes all of his time to the art of deception. In order to do this he plays upon the sentiments of the populace. He “plays up” patriotism, idealism and anything else that will move people to think that he means what he says. The politician has but one object—the control of votes. Inasmuch as the majority of people lack common sense and education, and are mostly concerned with the problem of how to make a living, the politician succeeds. That is, he succeeds until he overreaches himself, Then he is thrown out and has to start all over again, and as he knows no other trade, he loses no time in doing this. IRST POLITICAL INCUMBENT: Only a city hall bookkeeper! Say, bo, if you had any political stuff in you, you would be better off than a bookkeeper by now. Seconp Potiticat Incumbent: If I went any further T'd be in jail! COU’ MOKNING, CHARLOTTE.” SHE'LL SAY THE xEsT!" ITTLE JAPAN (to John Bull and Uncle Sam) ain't going to be no Korea There Miss Democracy: wooprow! IF YOU CAN'T START THIS OLD CROCK I'LL HAVE TO GET OFF!