Life — August 31, 1922 — page 10: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Old Bill Nickel" Cartoon Analysis The central cartoon depicts a disheveled man in a large hat sitting at a table with a bottle, illustrating the caption: "The main trouble with most of these Senators is they can't leave wool enough alone." This is political satire about U.S. Senators allegedly profiting from wool tariffs. "Old Bill Nickel" appears to be a stock character representing rural/working-class America. The cartoon criticizes senators for excessive protectionism regarding wool—they "can't leave wool enough alone," suggesting they continuously manipulate tariffs for personal gain rather than the public good. The surrounding "Life Lines" commentary discusses various contemporary issues (labor unrest, divorce law, prohibition bootlegging), typical of this satirical magazine's format.