Life, 1920-10-21 · page 39 of 44
Life — October 21, 1920 — page 39: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This Life magazine page critiques two types of non-voters in what appears to be an early 20th-century American election cycle. The article "Are You Too Proud to Vote?" distinguishes between "conscientious objectors" (idealistic protesters who boycott elections due to political corruption) and "slackers" (the lazily indifferent who simply neglect voting). The satire targets both groups as equally irresponsible: the objectors paradoxically enable the corruption they protest by abstaining, while slackers shirk civic duty entirely. The piece argues that even a "wrong" vote demonstrates more community value than non-participation. The surrounding content—including a humorous anecdote about a woman's changing fashion and a W.L. Douglas shoe advertisement—appears incidental to the main political message, which reflects Progressive Era concerns about voter apathy and civic engagement during a period of heightened debate about voting rights and political reform.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
-LIFE- Are You Too Proud to Vote? i HAT about those undesirable citizens way from the polls on They come under two who stay Election Day? t cassifications —the conscientious objec- tors and the slackers. The conscientious objectors are with- holding their votes as a protest against the various parties, thereby tly into the hands of those t whom they think they are protesting. They intend to keep out of the election because “ politics are too rot- ten”; but they don’t stop to realize that the blame for this rottenness rests solely toss rule in bosses WLDOUGLAS NAME AND THE RETAIL PRICE || RE STAMPED ON THE BOTTOM OF ALL HOES BEFORE THEY LEAVE THE FACTORY || ves. ers don’t vote because they do so, or hecause they have cement at the County Club. So far as they are concerned, November and is a holiday—and nothing more. are too lazy t a previous er Of the two types, the conscientious ob- ectors naturally have something more to d yet, in the ulti- are just as distinct a be said in thei analysis, th as the less altruistic slackers The man or woman who votes the wrong way is one hundred per cent. more valuable to the community than the mau of woman who does not vote at all A Modest Modern Maid | SAW her at the seashore this summer She had on one of those skirtless bath: ing suits. Then again 1 saw her in the ballroom She wore a backless evening gown When I returned to the city, I met her on the street. I noted that her hair was Jone in this new fashion, She wore it combed low down, It was then that I asked her what was the reason for this new coiffure. swer was simple. She said: “When a woman marries she must have * ae las shoes. something new to spring on her husband. stamped on the sole. CAUTION.—Insist upon having W.L_Doug- The name and price is plainly Be careful to see that it has not been changed or mutilated. \ {UU eR ute Momeone A 0, GT SF otentaen Cw tr OV so Yel AKome wll day 15 0 ao. Sow WZ. THE SHOE THAT HOLDS ITSGP/ SHAPE $722 $800 $9.00 & $10:0° SHOES FOR MEN AND WOMEN YOU CAN SAVE MONEY BY WEARING L. DOUGLAS SHOES Ze e best known shoes _) in the world. They (— are sold in 107 W. L. Douglas stores, direct}, from the factory to you z at only one profit, which guarantees to you the best shoes that can be produced, at the lowest possible cost. W.L. Douglas name and the retail price are stamped on the bottom of all shoes before they leave the factory, which is your protection against unreasonable profits. W.L.Douglas $9.00 and $10.00 shoes are abso lutely the best shoe values for the money in this country. They are made of the best and finest leathers that money can buy. They combine quality, style, workmanship and wearing quali- ties equal toother makes selling at higher prices. They are the leaders in the fashion centers of America. The stamped price is W.L. Douglas personal guarantee that the shoes are always worth the price paid for them. The prices are the same everywhere; they cost no more in San Francisco than they do in New York. W. L. Douglas shoes are made by the highest paid, skilled shoemakers, under the direction and supervision of experienced men, all working with an honest determination to make the best shoes for the price that money can buy. W. L. Douglas shoes are for sale by over 9000 besides our own stores, Her an- you, take no ether make. 1 for booklet telling how to order shoes by mail, postage free. If your local dea Order direct from factory. President W.L.Douglas Shoe Co., 147 Spark Street, Brockton, THAT'S WHAT YELL OSCAR, IP YE Sister: DON'T STOF MAVEN’ VE comicbooks.com