Life, 1924-10-30 · page 26 of 36
Life — October 30, 1924 — page 26: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This 1920s *Life* magazine page satirizes election-season political speeches. "The Radio Speech" mocks candidates' empty rhetoric: they promise to address major issues (the KKK, Prohibition, foreign policy) with grandiose language about "terrific forces of nature" and radio technology, then deliver nothing substantive—the speech keeps getting interrupted by a children's story about "Bertie Bulldog" chasing a cat. The "Evolution" cartoon contrasts a soap statue (representing old advertising/humbug) with a radio tower (representing modern technology), suggesting politicians merely use new media to broadcast the same old lies. The poem "Ode to Elections" reinforces this: every election repeats identical speeches, dirty tricks, and satire—nothing genuinely changes. The cartoons and content all convey that despite technological progress and electoral promises, politicians remain predictably dishonest and elections remain essentially unchanged theater.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
EVOLUTION The Radio Speech HE candidates, in their hour amplifications, will settle every- quarter- thing vital somewhat as follows: My dear people: In opening I take this splendid opportunity to thank those great geniuses who have so controlled the terrific forces of nature as to make speaking to all my friends, from the Canadas of the North to the turgid Rio Grande, a possibility as well as a wonderful pleastire. my friends, I will not mi I will take first the Klan. Should it be wiped out like a viper in. the country’s bosom, or should it be un- molested and helped? My friends, I do hesitate to tell you that I we should—(Mors We will now turn our attention to the Prohibition question. Should the Constitution be upheld, right or wrong, or should the desires and in- clination of the individual be consid- ered? There can be but one answer. I know in my heart, as you all, my friends, know in your hearts that— ose ie GF Sy. can you see, You cannot doubt my sincerity when I tell you these things. I am just as firmly opinionated on the third big issue of the day—our foreign policies. Perhaps I hurt my chances, my friends, he dawalsear- ly light that we stop our dilatory tactics, that we put aside delay, that we immediately proceed to—“WNAC speaking: ‘So Bertie Bulldog chased Catharine Cat down the cool, shady lane, and poor little Catharine thought of the six little kittens, and—' My friends, I thank you. (Fifteen minutes up.) Nick Flatley, D IA: So she’s gone on the stage? Cetta: Yes; she can light a cigarette with one match, Ode to Elections (With the Same Old Apologies) Ss‘s E old buncombe ; same old blali Same old rah, rah, rah, rah, ral Same old speeches; same old bands; Same old cramps from shaking hand Same reporters; same old news; Same cigars; same interviews. Same old dickers; same cabals; Same old ed-eye-tore-eye-als. Same old Voters “take their pens”; Same indignant Citizens, Same lampooners; same lampoons ; Same cartoonists; same cartoons. Same predictions—hit or miss; Same old satire, just like this. Wherefore men go out to play Same old golf Election Day. Baron Ireland. Kitchen Hints GREE with cook if you want fo to agree with you. Try burning only one side of toa leaving other side for butter. Chicken hash tastes better if plac Letween large biscuits and call chicken shortcake. A new salad may be invented turning ice box upside down a shaking until contents are well mixc A WOMAN is known by the cor pany she keeps avaiting. Burglar: ONE FALSE MOVE OUTTA YOU AN’ V'Lt—— The Sleepy One: Not ANOTHER WORD, DEAR BOY. JUST MAKE YOUR- SELF COMFORTABLE, YOU'LL FIND THE CUEST BOOK ON THE MALL TABLE, WRITE A CHEERY LINE FOR US BEFORE YOU LEAVE. but at this critical point of our national life, the individual means a little less than nothing. If I am elected, I will go hefore Congress and insist, aye, demand, comicbooks.com