Life, 1926-12-02 · page 55 of 81
Life — December 2, 1926 — page 55: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The main cartoon depicts a jury foreman in Indiana posing an extraordinary question: whether the prisoner is guilty OR a Klansman—implying these are the only two relevant categories. This satirizes the Ku Klux Klan's pervasive influence in 1920s Indiana, where the organization wielded such political power that Klan membership apparently superseded guilt or innocence in judicial proceedings. The accompanying humor pieces mock contemporary social issues: a movie usher resents his servile uniform; a businessman's daughter writes Santa as though to a subordinate; Prohibition enforcement officers' hypocrisy is mocked (the chief wants to escape to England); and a child's definition of a "yes-man" father reflects workplace conformity anxieties. The satire collectively critiques Klan infiltration of institutions, class pretension, corporate culture, and Prohibition's selective enforcement.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Foreman of Jury (in Indiana): Now, GENTLEMEN, THIS 1 HE QUESTION FOR THE MEMBERS OF THIS JURY TO DECIDE—IS THIS PRISONER GUILTY OR Is HE A KLANSMAN? The Movie Usher Thinks O F all the sap outfits to put on a guy. Hope I don't look as funny as I feel in this circus rig. “Yes, sir. How many, sir?” Gee, I forgot to salute. Can you tie that? Makin’ us salute the cus- tomers! ‘Certainly, madam. About half-way down, please?” Boy, but I got ick in the back standin’ up so straight all this time. These pants is too tight for me. “If you'll kindly take the trouble to follow me, sir.” Gee, it burns me up havin’ to fall all over yourself bein’ polite to these birds. They don’t know what it's all about. Just a lotta cattle and we got to treat ‘em like royalty. “May I trouble you to rise, madam?” Great grief, there’s Danny Maloney. What a razzin’ I'll get if he spots me in these vaudeville clothes! “Kindly be so good as to follow me, sir.” Thank God, Danny didn’t come down my aisle! This coat’s cuttin’ into me somethin’ terrible. I ought to of had my head examined when I quit jerkin’ soda to take this here job. “Certainly, madam. On the aisle, madam.” Dressin’ myself up like an Eyetalian organ grinder’s monkey. “Right upstairs and turn to your left, madam. You can’t miss it, madam.” Boy, what a life! Guess I'll buzz around to the drug store first thing to-morrow and see if I can get back my job jerkin’ soda. Robert Lord. The Big Business Man’s Daughter: DADDY, I WISH YOU'D SEND ME UP A FIRST-CLASS STENOGRAPHER—I'VE Got A VERY IMPORTANT LETTER TO DIC~ TATE TO SANTA CLAUS, The Suspicious Character HE castles of the Demon Rum Are easy of access to some. Without a knock, without a wink, They walk right in and get a drink, But I must wait outside the door, Till eyes through panels look me o'er. My name, the names of friends I And what I do and where I live, Alas! in my own case I find A tiger never will be blind. Fairfax Downey. Dependable ICE LADY CALLER (to little boy): But you don’t expect to get everything you ask for on Christ- mas, do you, Jimmie? Jimaie: Sure I do—my Daddy's a yes-man. LOWING tribute by Gen. Lin- coln C, Andrews to the all- around good time he is having as chief Prohibition enforcement officer in America: “I only wish I could stay in England for a year.” comicbooks.com \