Life, 1920-10-14 · page 37 of 44
Life — October 14, 1920 — page 37: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains a political cartoon satirizing the 1920 presidential election process. The narrative describes two major-party conventions nominating candidates—both equally unqualified "dark horses" chosen solely for their appealing appearance, business sense, and farmhouse backgrounds, with no actual distinguishing qualities. The satire's punchline: on Election Day, voter turnout is so abysmal that for hours *no one votes at all*. Only when one candidate votes for himself does the nation finally have a president-elect. **The joke:** The cartoon mocks American electoral apathy and the superficiality of candidate selection—suggesting voters are so disengaged and the candidates so indistinguishable that democracy nearly grinds to a halt. The remainder of the page is dominated by a Durham-Duplex Razor advertisement featuring a smiling man holding the product, unrelated to the political content.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
widely ro vast s¢ two dential South of the ommo- After ons of sed up y cast stances anyont by the the second part convened in another aally located metropolis. Balloting be- gn almost as soon as the organ in the qavention hall concluded the national anthem, And almost immediately an odd coinci- deoce became evident. In this assemblage eo one anyone wanted nominated could tenominated. A dark horse also was put orward. He was admittedly the sort of man vbo would make a President. Knowing tothing about him, no one could possibly ter him ill will, He, too, came from a gate whose vote is said to sway the na- ton’s destiny. He also had all the requi- steo—a profile pleasing to the ladies, level- headedness, business sense, a happy home ud a farmhouse as his birthplace. It hecame hard to tell which of the two atties had made a more masterful nomi- ation, Veterans of a dozen elections pedicted a close and bitter fight for the presidential honors. Election day dawned bright and clear. The railroads were swamped by excur- wonists. Highways were so crowded tat automobile accidents reached an saprecedented maximum. Activity reigned ywhere—except at the polls. For hours not a single vote was cast. for hours it seemed as if there wasn’t to be any President. For the first me in months the political situation be- ame interesting. en, late in the day, one of the candi- fates voted for himself, so for the next our years the republic did have an execu- e after all. Easy fo Play Fasy fo Pay Teealts. jor coy of beck. THE FAMOUS Buescher-Grand Corn Some Blade! You “hop to it” with a smile, and finish up the same way, when the Durham-Duplex is on the job. Good-bye toscraping and “pulling”. Good-bye to face-burning and skin irritation. The famous two-edged, detachable Durham-Duplex Blades are the longest, strongest, keenest blades on earth, oil-tempered, hollow- ground and scientifically stropped to an edge of surpassing sharpness —and guarded to prevent cutting. It's the greatest blade ever. You'll say so yourself after a single shave with this real razor. Standard Set One Dollar Razor with attractive American ivory handle, safety guard and package of three Durham- Dupiex Blades (6 shaving edges). All in hand- some American ivory case. Additional Blades 50 Cents for a package of 5 DURHAM-DUPLEX RAZOR CO. Jersey City, New Jersey FACTORIES JERSEY CITY, U.8. A. SHEPFIELD. ENG. PARIS, FRA TORONTO, CANADA Sales Rapeesitaite es in all Countries A Real Razor=made Safe comicbooks.com