Life, 1924-05-08 · page 35 of 42
Life — May 8, 1924 — page 35: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two pieces of political satire. The main cartoon, titled "It Works Perfectly," mocks American democratic governance through a courtroom dialogue. An "Average Citizen" is called as a witness in a tax investigation but admits he's too busy *earning* taxes to pay politicians to actually participate in government. He explains his bewildering system: he selects politicians who select other politicians to make laws, whose number is determined by those laws—creating a circular, self-perpetuating bureaucratic loop that he doesn't understand or control. The satire's point: ordinary citizens are disconnected from governance despite theoretically controlling it. They're trapped paying for a system they can't manage, reading politician-run newspapers that tell them what politicians to select. The title's irony—"it works perfectly"—underscores the complaint: the system functions *for politicians*, not citizens. This appears to critique Progressive Era concerns about governmental inefficiency and citizen apathy.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Political Career of Charles Smith Crake Siti, the town recorder Always worked for law Citizenship, said he, of course m Deep regard for strict enforcer In fact, he did his level best To make himself a public pest Last fall old Charlie said Shall run for Congres And I shall see that th Correctly down in Was! And so we sent him there to make A few more laws for us to ak. It Works Perfectly It w eck of the great x investigati 1 attorney rose his feet and anced Your Honor, my next witness has been brought forth at great expen Call the Average Citizen.” A man of uncertain age, attired in a quiet suit of ready-made vanced to the bar and held up to be sworn. Juvce. (impatiently) : Not that hand; the right h Don't you know your right hand from Artorxey: Just take the witness chair. No, not that one, the other. Sit down, Now just tell the Court what you know of this matter Averace Citizen Why—er—that —nothing. Artorvey: What! Aren't you th one concerned ? Averace Citizen: Why, I guess so —that is, I've never thought about it Attorney: But you're the one who pays the bills? Averace Citizen course. Attorney: And you control the government? ( Silence.) Jupce (ster swer the question. Attorney (impati Answer the question. Yes or ne Averace Citizen: Yes—er—that is, no. Attorney: Now what do you mean by that? Averace Citizen Well, you see, I can't attend to everything, so I select assistants to do things for me; for instance, I select politicia to run the government for me, and these politi- cians select the politicians I'm to select to make the laws, and these laws de termine the number of politicians I'm to have to run the government and how much to pay them. But I keep a line on these politicians by reading news papers run by politicians who tell me what is going on, and what politicians to select Attorney: Why don't you give this your personal attention? ° : s . t is historys shrine ! The romance of old Quebec is the romance of America... Here France began a New World Empire, in 1608. Here struggled great French- men, great Englishmen, great Americans. The forts they built, the houses they occupied, the town they coveted—all are still here... But now has risen a crowning glory—Chateau Frontenac. A modern hotel—yet also a re- liquary of history. There’s a series of historic stained glass windows—a model of the ship that brought Quebec’s founders. Historic fig- ures and periods are perpetuated in its rooms. You dwell in utmost hotel luxury—yet, also in the living romance of America’s beginnings. rve at Canadian Pacific, 342 Madison Ave., at 44th, New York, 71 E. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, Chateau Frontenac, Quebec, Canada. Greater CHATEAU FRONTENAC Averace Citizen Why, I'm kept too busy earning taxes to pay the pol iticians to have any time to devote to such matters. I let the I T have told you. It sounds complic when T try to explain it; but it’s really f Children quite simple, and it works perfectly , the The ORIGINAL \\_Malted Milk / Safe Milk For Infants, , Invalids, ‘Aged, ete. C.M.G . Avoid Imitations comicbooks.com