Life, 1924-10-30 · page 7 of 36
Life — October 30, 1924 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical cartoon depicts a chaotic political gathering where various figures—appearing to represent political candidates and their supporters—engage in rowdy behavior at what's labeled as the Electoral College. The accompanying text describes "The Perfect Candidate," a political figure whose campaign is satirized: he avoided taking stances, missed opportunities to distinguish himself, and ultimately failed at every political endeavor from debates to legislative races, relying instead on a "landslide" victory fueled by underhanded tactics. The cartoon ridicules both political candidates who lack substance and the electoral process itself, suggesting that success comes through manipulation rather than merit. The chaotic scene emphasizes corruption in American politics and the disconnect between noble democratic ideals and messy electoral realities.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Chronic Cosmic Complaint VER the old order changeth! Sver there’s nothing that’s new! ir up the chaos of millions— Vill you find calm in the few? p the old order from changing! some hand could do it—but whose? aighten the sixes and sevens— rhere’ll still be the ones and the twos! A. D.H. The Perfect Candidate ‘HERE never was an acquaintance of his boyhood who “wasn’t ing” to Our Hero; but only once outh did a companion slap his back y: he missed the mosquito. college Our Chieftain was asked take the affirmative in a debate: solved, that the American Indian 1 member of a disappearing race.” refused, explaining that he had desire to stir up racial antag- sms. Vhen he ran for the Legislature, wr Stalwart made eloquent speeches pounding the doctrine that right- asness is found in the absence of mgdoing. None could refute this. was clected. during his Legislative career, Our | had a dependable set of tonsils. cy began to swell the day before clerk started droning names for a ll-eall vote. His campaign for the Governorship s conducted on lofty and dignified insulting Dempsey THE ELECTION We duet seem to bear ‘That's a fact, Simvch 0° Bill Bryan ed, ha bed trate days 2 f t is Yes, sin, | vated Gor Martin Van Buren for President and 1 aint vised a revaion since Oldest Living Atomeet ALUMNI DAY HIGH JINKS AT THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE lines. A reckless, radical opponent charged that he was a nincompoop. Our Champion replied that Lincoln was a martyr. The rival candidate asserted that Our Noble Statesman lacked courage, intelligence, honesty of purpose, faith, hope and charity. The reply called at- tention to the lessons of the Mexican War. Wantonly the opposition proclaimed that Our Leader had robbed widows and orphans, blackjacked cripples, poi- soned babes in arms and played cricket. He said, in refutation, that his grandfather and father had voted the straight party ticket all their lives. He rode into office on a landslide. A deadlock in a national convention gave him his greatest chance. Ff other candidate was beaten by friends; Our Knight had none was nominated. Zvery one says he is certain to be elected. They say that while it is true that no one can fool all the people all the time, a candidate concern himself only with a majority James K. McGuinness. need Impatience Did you ever see such a lous sunset? Oh, y V mar’ Huspanp: come on! Don't annoy it. comicbooks.com