Life, 1920-08-05 · page 16 of 48
Life — August 5, 1920 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine contains political and labor satire from the early 20th century. **"The Biograph"** section mocks James Middleton Cox (Democratic presidential candidate) through verse, comparing him unfavorably to Woodrow Wilson and suggesting he lacks the stature for high office. **"The Golf Course of Republicans"** uses golf as metaphor for Republican governance—specifically critiquing President Harding's administrative style versus Wilson's. It suggests Republican leaders rely on professional advisors and constantly "correct" policy mistakes, creating perpetual bungling. **"Men of Letters"** satirizes labor union alphabet soup—the bewildering proliferation of union acronyms (A.F. of L., I.C.M.U., A.L.B.U., etc.). The joke mocks how union organizers use incomprehensible jargon, making labor politics seem absurdly bureaucratic and inaccessible.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
WANT TO GET A GOOD FISHING POLE.” YES, SIR; ABOUT HOW LONG, SIR?” “OH, ONE THAT WILL HOLD ABOUT TWO QUARTS.” Men of Letters ROM his all-silk shirt the trade-union organizer knocked off the ashes which had fallen from his fifty-cent cigar as he sank into the embrace of a soft chair in the hotel grill. “T see the A. F. of L. barred Local 26, of the I. C. M. U..” he drawled. “Yes,” asserted an organizer of the 1. B. A., as he stabbed a four-dollar steak, “but the 1. C. M. UL i oin’ to take it up with the A. L. B. U.” “Yes, but the A. F. of L. is agin the I, C. M. U. and the A. L. B. U.,” said the first unionist, “and the Y. B. F. A. and the P. L. A. is fightin’ 'em.” “But they don’t figger on the A. L. B. F. M. A.,” contended the other, “and it’s joined with the H. T. B. L. O. and the S. LI. T. U. W. to put the A. F. L. and the I. L. T. M,N. A. down and out.” “That's al! B. U. N. K,,” interrupted a waiting waiter. “I suggest that you both W. O. R. K.—P. D. Q.,” he said, as he flung back a ten-cent tip, “or the H. C. of L. will put the K. I. B. O. S. H. on your whole M. O. B.” The Biograph JAMES MIDDLETON COX N Candidature, J. M. Cox Is manifestly Orthodox. You seek the Presidential Zion, Yet were not born a True Ohian And have not been a Journalist : Like Cox (or Harding)? Pray desist! A Man of Means and High Position, A shrewdly able Politician, ' He cheers the Democratic Camp, Though Bryan thinks him Much Too Damp. But who is William Jennings Bryan To gibe at such a Great Ohian? And who, indeed, am I to joke, Who come of Good Ohio Folk? Ohio! cram your Ballot Boxes With either Harding’s Name or Cox's! Arthur Guiterman, The Golf Course of Republics ‘| SEE,” said the first golfer, “that this man Harding, whoever he is, is just the opposite of what that man Wilson was. Wilson played his own game without interference. Harding can't do a thing without taking his morning les- son from the professionals.” “That's the whole trouble with our system of running a government,” replied the second golfer. “They start in by slicing the ball all over the course. Then everybody gets tired of seeing ‘em slice, and in order to correct the fault they begin to pull.” “Well, they manage to hole out eventually.” “ But think of the rotten score they make.” we “DAKN IT! 1 WISH I HAD A SISTER” comicbooks bosti_|