Life, 1927-06-09 · page 14 of 39
Life — June 9, 1927 — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a satirical commentary on American politics presented as a circus with multiple "rings" of political figures and events. The announcer invites readers to observe various politicians performing their acts: - **Charles G. Dawes** and **General Hell-'n-Maria Charlie**: Political figures presented as spectacles - **Al Smith**: Referenced multiple times as a political performer - **Governor Lowden**: Featured as "The Pride of the West" - **William Gibbs McAdoo**: California's "Favorite Son" The satire mocks the 1920s presidential race as entertainment, with politicians as circus performers competing for attention. The "many rings" structure suggests simultaneous, competing political machinations. The bottom illustration of a couple negotiating marriage terms parallels the absurdity of political negotiations. Overall, the piece ridicules how electoral politics resembles a circus spectacle rather than serious governance.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
MGA AD LNAWAShWY GNV' NOILVIIsIda 3HL 404 ka “BUSY GTREET SCENE IN POUGHKEERSI=“ The Announcer: “IN this ring, ladies and gentle- men, Calvin Coolidge, the Great Inscrutable! Sce his vote-defying vetoes, watch him beard the savage farmer in his cornfield—and make him like it! See Silent Cal! Will he run again? WILL HE RUN AGAIN? God only knows, and time alone will tell! “In this ring, ladies and gentle- men, Charles G. Dawes, General Hell-n’-Maria Charley! p him in his amusing spectacle, Defying the Senate, and Being Defied in Turn! A laugh—not a vote, ladies and gentlemen—a sec- ond! He is not a candidate for any office and never has been, but he is Vice-Presi- dent of the United States! Q. E. D., ladies and gentle- men, Q. E. D.! “In this ring, ladies and gentlemen, Farmer Lowden of Illinois! See him beat plowshares into votes, reap- ers into delegates! Watch him whirl all other issues about his head until they are DIZZY! Governor Lowden, the Pride of the West! “In this ring, ladies and gentlemen, Al Smith, Gov- She: sureny, BuT we’'Le She: The Many-Ringed Circus ernor Al of N'Yawk! Is he wet or is he dry? Does he love the Ku Klux ? SEE HIM! HEAR HIM! and draw your own conclu- sions! “And in the next ring, ladies and gentlemen, Al's side-kick, his favor- ite buddy, William Gibbs McAdoo, California’s Favorite Son! Will he run, ladies and gentlemen? -Try to keep him from it, just try! He is so much like Al Smith, ladies and gentlemen, that they are mistaken for BROTHERS! Heh! Heh! Heh! “In this ring, la- dies and gentlemen, Nicholas Long- worth, Socicty’s i t JS Coons He: MARRY ME, DARLING? He: wuy so? HAVE TO WAIT AWHILE. 1 WANT MY FIRST MARRIAGE TO BE FOR LOVE. Nicky! Sec him wrap the House of Representatives about his LITTLE FINGER! Sce him make friends and create votes by the THOU- SAND! Will he run? Ask Alice, SHE KNOWS! “In the next ring, ladies and gen- tlemen, Governor Ritchie, of Mary- land, My Maryland! Is he wet? Watch him drip, ladies and gentle men, WATCH HIM DRIP! See him devour the Eighteenth Amend- ment in two bites or even one, AND WITH GREATEST GUSTO! “In the other rings, the other can- didates, ladies and gentlemen, other candidates stretching as far as naked s them, hear them, watch their droll antics! Each will be worth the price of admission, as you, one and all, will readily agree! “The BIG SHOW is just start- ing, just commencing! LET "ER GO!” John C, Emery. Another Angle “PRHAT man, back in 1900, created quite sensation by driving an automobile 15 miles an hour.” “Well, he could do the same to-day!” comicbooks.com