Life, 1926-08-05 · page 25 of 41
Life — August 5, 1926 — page 25: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This cartoon satirizes the Anti-Saloon League's perceived corruption of the political process. The figure labeled "Mr. Wheeler" (likely Wayne Wheeler, the League's prominent leader) is depicted as a merchant literally *selling* politicians—Senators, Representatives, and Federal Judges—like commodities. The joke targets the League's reputation for wielding excessive political influence through lobbying and backroom dealing, particularly regarding Prohibition legislation. By presenting politicians as purchasable goods "in stock," the cartoonist suggests politicians have become mere products controlled by special-interest groups rather than independent representatives. The customer's complaint about quality—Senators "going sour," stored goods spoiling—mocks both the perceived corruption of the legislative process and the League's outsized power over elected officials. The satire implies that American democracy has been commercialized and compromised by organizations like the Anti-Saloon League, reducing governance to a transaction rather than representation.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
PUBLIC LIFE OF THE CAPITAL. THE PRESIDENT TAKES A QUIET DAY’S FISHING AWAY PROM ALL TILE CROWDED The Anti-Saloon League Goes Shopping OW, let's sec, what have you N for me this morning, Mr. Whceeler—something nice, you Representatives? 1 bought some Representatives just the other day and they didn’t turn know? Oh, dear, out so well, Didn't seem as peppery you used to get for me. Somehow, this year’s crop.... haven’t any nice Federal s you could let me have, have No? What a shame! We've been looking forward to getting some Federal Judges for such a long time! Do you think you'll ever have any more in stock? Oh, dear! Nothing seems the same this year as I've heen accustomed to. Senators? Well, I might try a few. Of course, 1 have some in the house now, but you never can get too many. They're so handy to have around, you know, in case anybody should drop in unexpectedly. What are they—Westerns or the local product? Westerns only? Oh, my goodness, Mr. Wheeler, it does seem as if you could sell me some- thing that hasn't been in cold storage since gracious knows when! Why, I as those you? can remember the good old days when I used to grow perfectly splen- did Senators right in my own back yard! Lately, though, ‘ve been just wretched. They've all gone positiv sour on me at my little places in New York and New Jer- sey and even those I sent for from Delaware and Pennsylvania were just too terrible! How is the quality of the New England variety? Only indifferent? Oh, I am disappointed. Well, ‘since I can't get anything better, I suppose you might as well NOW You TELL ONE $s E motorists like to pay the road tar be- cause we believe every cent we pay will be used for bet- ter roads.” wrap me up half a dozen nice West- ern Senators and please sce that they're good and ripe. Not so ripe, though, that they'll spoil right'away, because I may want to keep them for quite a while. Now what did I do with my change purse? Ten thousand dollars each? Why, Mr. Wheeler, Mr. Wheeler! Why, that’s awfully dear. Why, I can re- member... .Oh, well, I suppose I'll have to pay. Scems as if there isn’t any freedom at all these days... . Tip Bliss. Why Not Modernize Business? MPLOYMENT MANAGER (to feminine applicant): We'll pay you five pairs of chiffon stockings a week to start, Miss Guimpe, and if you make good we'll raise you two facials and a wave at the end of six months, THE most attractive thing about the short skirt is what the short skirt isn’t about. comicbooks.com