Editorial cartoons from the NY World-Telegram

[Barry A. Popik]

    I went through some of the 1943 New York World-Telegram.  Each day, there
were two important cartoons--the editorial cartoon and the Willard Mullin
("Dem Bums") sports cartoon.  I'm looking for "in like Flynn" and "the
greatest thing since sliced bread."
    Other installments may follow.

WAITING FOR THE OTHER SHOE TO DROP (continued)
     4 December 1943, pg. 8, "Waiting for That Other Shoe to Drop!"  A shoe,
"ALLIED VICTORIES," crushes Hitler; the other shoe, "BIG 3 CONFERENCE," is
about to drop on him.

LOW MAN ON A TOTEM POLE
     26 November 1943, pg. 26, "Low Man on a Totem Pole!"  "PRESSURE GROUPS"
are sitting on a "WHITE COLLAR WORKER."  "INFLATION" watches from a teepee.
    Ammer's AHDOI states that "totem pole" was invented by comedian Fred
Allen about 1940.  The cartoon was one of many to illustrate "pressure
groups."

TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE
     10 November 1943, pg. 30, "Their New Stamping Ground!"  Two men have
long beards--the small man's beard reads "TOO LITTLE" and the other's "TOO
LATE."  They stand on a tax bill.
     16 November 1943, pg. 18, "Here's Yer Bill!"  TOO LITTLE and TOO LATE
prop up the tax bill.
     30 November 1943, pg. 18, "Their Baby!"  TOO LITTLE and TOO LATE are
again with the tax bill.
     13 December 1943, pg. 18, "Flyin' Blind!"  TOO LITTLE and TOO LATE are
being delivered by a political stork.
     23 December 1943, pg. 16, "And Laying His Finger Aside of His Nose--AND
GIVING A NOD, UP THE CHIMNEY HE ROSE."  TOO LITTLE and TOO LATE are the
stocking-stuffers brought by a thumb-nosing Senate Santa Claus.
     Perhaps the saying originated in 1935, but cartoons like these gave it
currency during WWII.