Life — January 8, 1920 — page 19: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon satirizes an old-fashioned merchant or vendor ("Uncle Sam" figure, based on the top hat and facial hair style) who claims to be the "sole agent for pure Americanism" with "honest weight and full measure." The satire suggests hypocrisy: despite his patriotic proclamations displayed on a sign, he's actually conducting business "at the old stand"—implying he continues questionable or corrupt practices unchanged. The surrounding imagery (scales, fresh produce, various goods) suggests a marketplace merchant, likely critiquing American business or political leaders who espouse patriotic values while maintaining dishonest or exploitative practices. The cartoon mocks the gap between proclaimed American ideals and actual conduct.