Life, 1924-02-14 · page 18 of 36
Life — February 14, 1924 — page 18: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a satirical cartoon about Senate corruption and bribery during the Prohibition era. The scene depicts a luxurious cabaret with "free lunch" and alcohol—illegal under Prohibition—suggesting senators openly flouted the law. The dialogue mocks a senator from Connecticut who claims he yielded on "one more ball" (likely a legislative vote) to another senator. The men's conversation—reminiscent of New Orleans colloquial speech—creates comedic confusion about identity, suggesting these politicians are interchangeable or forgettable figures engaged in shady dealings. The cartoon satirizes senators' apparent comfort with vice and corruption. The "Public Gallery Closed" sign indicates secrecy. The title "What the Senate Is Coming to" expresses the cartoonist's criticism of institutional moral decline, implying that senators prioritize backroom deals and illegal pleasures over governing honestly.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
MI In the matter of ‘ be . CJ having one more ball. An he says to th’ other fella : Shay, aint you th’ man I met down 'n N’Orleans Sei d Ys S “ bee ieee, an th’ secon’ fella says, No, I never was in _=— from Ct. ? N'Orkeans, an’ th’ firs’ fella Ss = __ CAN _you recall that dh says, thash funny, neither was 1, fe _ one of Daniel We mussa been two other fellas Lyield 40 the Senator from Ct. What the Senate Is Coming comicbooks.com