Life, 1928-03-15 · page 15 of 34
Life — March 15, 1928 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical piece mocks President Hoover's agricultural policy. The cartoon depicts Hoover addressing his Cabinet about a "Department of Agriculture" that allegedly needs to address "native grapefruit" problems. The satire suggests the President is distracted by trivial agricultural concerns while serious issues—labor peace, the Nicaragua situation, and Congressional gridlock over a "Gumper Bill"—go unaddressed. The joke is that Hoover appears obsessed with minor details while major crises demand attention. References to Secretaries of War and Interior suggest cabinet-level dysfunction. The phrase "Throw your annual reports into the waste-basket" indicates bureaucratic inefficiency. This reflects 1920s-30s criticism of Hoover's presidency as ineffectual during economic and political turmoil.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The President Obeys That Impulse OOD morning, gentlemen of the Cabinet. I hope I kept you waiting a little longer than usual. If we had a Department of Agricul- ture that was worth a whoop I wouldn't be late. I’ve given you plenty of polite hints, Mr. Jardine, but it seems I shall have to do more than hint to get your department to do something about the native grape- fruit. Yes, Mr. Jardine, all over my vest again this morning. I see by the morning papers, Mr. Davis, that the Department of Labor is making progress toward industrial peace in this country. I think maybe it'd be a good idea for you to sit in at Mr. Kellogg’s desk until we finish helping the araguans elect a President that suits us for their own good. I tried to get you on the telephone three times yesterday, Mr. Wilbur. Why the hide-out? Another sub- marine half an hour overdue? And by the way, Mr. New, I was awake half the night because of a at a post office patron in ch, Idaho, actually found a stamp with enough glue on it. I be- lieve | have addressed you quite fre- quently on the subject of economy, haven't I, Mr. New? Where are the Secretary of War and the Secretary of the Interior “Why are ye wearin’ a black eye, Hinnessy?” “Sure, it’s a mourning for the man that gave style? it to me.” “Just before I start a Chicago fire I always light a Marlboro, but——I blame the fire on the cow.” this morning? I hope the presiden- tial bug hasn't crawled under their shirts, too, Mr. Hoover! It looks as if Congress were going to pass that Gumper Bill unless we do something desperate. Maybe you'd better come out with an en- dorsement of the bill, Mr. Mellon, Well, that’s all, gentlemen. ‘Throw your annual reports into the waste-basket and file out quiet] Good morning. Dum deedee dum dum— Gerald Cosgrove. Query “But the daughter of Cadmus saw him, fair-ankled Ino...” —Odyssey, Bk. V. NO of the ankles fair. Did you first dictate that style: “Dresses shorter, legs quite bare,” Ino of the ankles fair? (Nymph, I bet you had a pair For which Zeus would walk a mile.) Ino of the ankles fair, Did you first dictate that > S. Thorwald Stieglitz. No Decision USBAND (after heated argu- ment): But, dearest, don’t you admit that I’m usually right in such matters? Wire: I don’t admit anything of the kind unless you'll admit that I'm usually right, too. Pat: An’ pwhat do you call that long gown Father O'Donovan wears? Mike: ‘Tis one o’ these Parish models, comicbooks.com