Life — October 23, 1924 — page 12: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "LIFE" Picture Title Contest Page This page announces **Life magazine's contest** for humorous titles to accompany a center-page cartoon by Charles Dana Gibson (visible on pages 16-17). Prizes range from $500 to $50. The cartoon itself, captioned **"ARRIVAL OF THE EDITOR WHO IS ALWAYS TAKING STRAW VOTES,"** depicts an editor arriving amid chaotic voting activity. Figures hold ballots and voting materials marked "YES" and "NO," suggesting the cartoon satirizes editors who constantly poll their staff or the public rather than making decisive decisions themselves. The "straw vote" reference mocks informal, non-binding polls—implying indecisive leadership that relies on constant feedback rather than editorial authority. The humor targets editorial management style and workplace dynamics.