Life — December 8, 1927 — page 19: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This political cartoon depicts a grotesque figure labeled "Sinclair" struggling beneath an enormous ladder of legal charges. From top to bottom, the rungs read: "Jury Tampering Scandal," "Conspiracy Charge," "Contempt Charge," "Etc.," repeated multiple times, and ending with "A--- MALISEAM" (likely "A--- MALISEUM" or similar). The figure appears exhausted, trying to push away the accumulating accusations. The satire suggests that someone named Sinclair faces so many legal problems that clearing even one charge seems impossible—hence the title "Hard to Clear." Without the publication date visible, the specific historical Sinclair and scandal referenced remain unclear, though this likely refers to a prominent legal controversy from Life magazine's era.