Life, 1928-05-24 · page 6 of 38
Life — May 24, 1928 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This Life magazine page discusses Will Rogers' potential presidential nomination. The accompanying political cartoon satirizes Rogers' candidacy by depicting him as the only figure willing to ride a camel labeled "NOMINATION"—suggesting the nomination is an unwieldy, difficult burden that others refuse to accept. The cartoon implies that Rogers, despite his popularity and humor, would be taking on an extremely challenging task by accepting the presidency. The camel, a beast of burden, represents the weight and difficulty of the office itself. The figures refusing to mount it suggest that more traditional politicians recognized the impracticality or undesirability of the position during this period—likely referencing economic or political turmoil of the era when this was published.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
LIFE assured me that to be human and humor- ous is to sacrifice the Presidency. “Well,” adds Judge Lindsey, “let's show 'em. I hope Lire will nominate Will Rogers as the invincible candidate of the dissatisfied voters of both parties.” Wit Rocers is accordingly offered the nomination for the Presidency, as repre- sentative of a party which has no name, no emblem, no slogan and which is dedi- cated to only one supreme purpose: To fight Bunk in all its forms. If Rogers wants more of a platform than that, he can write it himself. This nomination was not made by a large mob of tired delegates in convention assembled. It was made, in the usual manner, by a small group of influential citizens gathered together in a hotel room. Thus, the enormous expense of hiring a hall, brass bands, press agents and pro- fessional cheer leaders, radio hook-ups, etc., was eliminated. It now remains to be scen whether or not Will Rogers will accept this nomina- tion. We can assure him that there are no strings attached to it. If he agrees to run for President, his campaign will be con- ducted on a sensible, inexpensive and painless basis. There will be no attempt to solicit con- tributions from oil magnates or from any- one else. There will be no necessity for our can- didate to pass out cigars, kiss babies, lay corner stones, dodge issues or be nice to newspaper men. Nor will he be asked to disguise himself as a farmer and pose for the photographers, with a rake in one hand and a sap bucket in the other. There will be no confidential advisers following him about and whispering such bits of advice as, “I think it would be a good policy to endorse motherhood,” or, “It would be unwise to boost the Ar- menian Relief Fund. We don’t want to offend the Turkish-American voters.” Will Rogers can say what he likes when he likes, and on any subject that happens to suit his fancy—which is one of the most superfluous statements ever uttered, A copy of this nomination has been sent to Will Rogers at his home in California and he has promised to reply—one way or the other—within a few days. We hope to be able to announce his decision in next week's issue of Lire, There's one thing sure: if Will Rogers turns down the nomination, this pro- | posed Third Party will pass quietly out of existence. He is the only available candidate who could, in all honesty, run for President on a genuinely bunkless platform. There’s another thing sure: if Will Rogers does decline to run, he will say so, in no uncertain terms. He won't use the word “choose.” Lire, “Come on, Will—you're the only one who can ride her!” (ds Jo Cotum: Probab it does' drinkin than ev because well re the brie Tl go « Tue thoroug at all. | probabl able, C disagrec Cort bing, P Tue like it when | ail Cot up drir vile, 0} Beach. Cont to Paln ally, I Beach people sobbing Tue gellans Cou he alw: get ma: Million think. Tue on this will. J drinkin Cou bingest sunk. / that's ¢ front? Practic: going the Inc comicbooks.com