Life, 1924-10-30 · page 5 of 36
Life — October 30, 1924 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This *Life* magazine page satirizes three political figures from the 1920 presidential election era: **Calvin Coolidge** (top left): Mocked for his taciturn nature—the text jokes he could express complex ideas simply by saying "No" or "Yes," referencing his reputation for extreme quietness. **John William Davis** (bottom left): A Democratic politician depicted as constantly campaigning across states, criticized for association with corruption and the Ku Klux Klan ("Ku Klux"). **Robert Marion La Follette** (top right): A Progressive/reformer shown as a farmer-advocate fighting trusts, endorsed by Samuel Gompers (labor leader). The caricatures exaggerate their distinctive physical features typical of period political cartooning. The satire targets each figure's perceived weaknesses or public personas during this competitive election cycle.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
John William Davis ~ROM State to State flies Mr. Davis (John William), singing like a Mavis om Platforms, and Trucks, Corruption ! Klux!” his Highly Tailored West Virginian Legal Lore excels Justinian; lis Statesmanship is World-renowned ; \nd so upon him Capped and Gowned, Faculties, in High Communion, f Glasgow, Birmingham and Union, di Yale and Washington & Lee Have each conferred an LL.D! lle made a Hit, Ambassadoring ; lle never found the British boring, spoke, the English Papers tell, heir Nation's Language strangely well He says, with Emphasis Emphatic, That Democrats are Democratic, The Straight can best Administrate \nd he's the Candid Candidate! Rostrums, Stumps Oil! Ku Klux, Ku I Calvin Coolidge 1S Parents named our Coolidge, “Calvin,” Instead of Algernon or Alvin, Which helped to make him somewhat Stern And Eminently Taciturn. He passed, we'll add in this Connection, His Early Days in Calm Reficction; In School he won the Highest Prize For Keeping Mum and Looking Wise. In Later Life and Proud Positions, Averse to Turgid Disquisitions, He proved that Man could well express A Lot by saying, “No” or “Yes.” And yet, he knows his Dictionary, For, when the Late Constabulary Of Boston rashly went on Strike, He used some. Terms they didn’t like. Our Noiseless Sphinx digests the Facts And Thinks and Thinks and often Acts. Will our most Garrulous of Nations, That so delights in Long Orations, Elect a Man for Keeping Still?— Perhaps it Won't, perhaps it Will. Robert Marion La Follette ERE’S Robert Marion La Follette, Who strives to fill the Farmer's Wallet And foils The Trusts intent to rob; The Neighbors call him “Fighting Bob” (Though discover His Attitude when Warclouds hover, And “Bob” belies his Pet Coiffure— He wears his Topknot, Pompadour) His Speeches meet a warm Response in His native Badger State (Wisconsin), Whose People always choose him for Their Governor or Senator. Endorsed by Mr. Samuel Gompers. Reformers hardly out of Rompers And sundry Pacifists of Note, He likewise owns the German Vote. And now our Choice Illuminati And Super-Cultured Literati, With H. L. Mencken's High Consent, Intend to make him President. Arthur Guiterman. “Fighting” does not quite comicbooks.com