Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1912-03-24
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SQlSdlU The cartoon may produce in the
subject either a feeling OF citation or
OF disgust
If 1t is good cartoon laid on broad tounda-
ton Of humor, and the point is we'll made It should
arouse no resentment. A person ought to be able
to take joke-and a cartoon is supposed to be a
joke perpetrated in pcture-when the joke is on
him as when It is on the other fellow II the car
toon is distortion breathing malice or deliberate
Misrepresentation in every line, why, 1t stimulates
desire to get sight Of the artist and have brick
handy about the time he comes within hitting dis
lance. But the ambition to retaliate the car
toonist will fade away when you realize that he is
Just working at his profession and probably draw
ing pictures he is told to draw them, possibly
having the ideas supplied to him to be elaborated
on the drawing board.
With the single exception Of Mr.. Bryan, who
unquestionably holds the record for having been
the target for cartoons than any other person
on earth, believe have figured in a larger num-
Der of such pictorial portrayals than anyone else
now living In Nebraska. This honor, or disgrace.
whichever way is viewed, is due to the persistent
practice of personal politics pursued by the oppos
ton In this city and state by which l. as was my
father before me- have been singled out personally
TO take the burden of every campaign instead OF
the candidates whom may be favoring Never an
election passes in which a stranger judging by the
cartoons might not easily be led to imagine that
running for at least one II not every, office
the ticket although ! have never sought election
to public office of any kind. Perhaps it is sheer
vanity that has impelled to save the cartoons
in which pretended likeness Of myself figures-if
SO, admit the charge-but the collection makes
an interesting record of past politics and current
history. interesting to me. no doubt, than to
anyone else. l have now nearly 100 of these draw
ings in my possession. and more a-coming every
little while.
T>.9 Memorable First Cartoon.
Yes, remember the appearance of my first
cartoon 1t was Just a little one. but the artist
"hit It off," as it were. had been on the ground
at the legislature OF 1901 in Lincoln somewhat
actively engaged in supervising the job of electng
two United States senator's assisted by. assist
ing a number Of similarly selfsacrficing patriots
with like purposes among them then District Judge
Ben" Baker The Judge and offered the car
toonist Just the sort Of contrasts that he reyels in
measure five feet four and half inches which is
below the average, and weigh around 125 pounds,
while Ben" is large of height and grth and tips
the scales quite generously. have a head Of hair
that makes me get my moneys worth whenever l
patronize the barber shop, while Ben combs his
Uranium with washrag and. except for the small
space occupied by invisible fringe the neck,
keeps q roller skating rink for flies all the year
round do not use tobacco in any form, while
"Ben's" most constant companion is a big black
cigar, SO you readily see what the cartoonist
did TO There is Ben with feet terra firma
az against me perched high on soap box placed on
q chair. and then just able to get my mouth
level with his Ben has his cigar at a rakish
tilt and wears clothes that bespeak the man OF the
world, while am made to look like an immature
boy Just out Of eollegeit might have been kinder
garten.
OF course, was all puffed up by that cartoon.
thought must be beginning to amount to some
thing to attract that much attention. / showed It,
without attempting to conceal my pride. to friends
and acquaintance. / even felt compmented by
being associated with such great man as Judge
Baker and to be able to rise high he did even
though / had to pile soap box on top of chair
to do so.
Working a Famous Toga.
Out Of the senatorial campaign Of 1906 grew q
series Of cartoons In which figured. sometimes In