Life, 1912-09-26 · page 20 of 48
Life — September 26, 1912 — page 20: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three satirical pieces: **"Fitting the Crime"** criticizes Navy recruitment propaganda. The text contrasts stirring patriotic recruitment posters (showing clean sailors firing guns) with the actual treatment of service members. It cites the case of Gunner Kapsa, a ten-year veteran forcibly vaccinated against his religious objections, then court-martialed, degraded, and dishonorably discharged for refusing. The satire exposes how the Navy's harsh discipline and involuntary medical procedures contradict the heroic image presented in recruitment materials—explaining why recruitment is slow. **"Profit and Loss"** briefly critiques New York City's financial management of public transit, noting losses from the Staten Island ferries while questioning losses from other facilities the city doesn't own. **"Protection"** argues ironically that modern society protects everything—industries (tariffs), politicians (government), children (schools), doctors (fear)—except character, honesty, and courage, which "need no protector." The accompanying cartoon of Adam and Eve appears to reference this ironic point about human virtue.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
1856 Fitting the Crime ROM the stirring colored pictures posted about in public places, we infer that Uncle Sam needs recruits for his navy. Patriots in clean, white suits : depicted firing big guns in defense their country. These pictures arouse en- thusiasm. But there is another side to the picture, a side not shown in the invitation to en- list. According to the Philadelphia Jn- quirer, Senator Works has announced his intention of taking up the case of Gunner Kapsa, late of the battleship Delaw In’ brief, the facts arc as cination order was issued on December 1. Kapsa refused to submit, both on religious grounds and because he in a state of normal health, His record shows he had never been il and had served in the navy for ten years with high honor, and had been promoted for merit. He court martialled, degraded, his wages stopped, d senteheed to one year’s penal servi- . after which he will be dishonor y discharged from the service. —Homoeopathic Recorder. Small wonder that recruits for the navy are slow in coming forward, especially while vaccination is being denounced, and by eminent physicians, as a “useless and dangerous superstition.” Profit and Loss HOSE figures showing how much the city of New York loses by owning the Staten Island ferries are interesting and the numerous editorials based upon them are in- structive. We should now like to know how much the city loses by not owning other portions of our rapid transit facilities. THE INTRUDER Protection ROTECTION is modern. The protection idea extends to every branch of human activity. Not to be protected by something is to be un- worthy of being alive. Industries are protected by the tar- Se . iff. The tariff is protected by poli- inks ahh ticians, Politicians are protected by fo rem wen — ae — ee FIR SS PINE |! serv government. Children are protected by a school system. Doctors are protected by the universal fear grounded in human na- ture. The trusts are protected by the law. Character and honesty and cour- age, however, still remain unprotected They need no protector. They depend FALL SHOPPING IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN upon themsel comicboo!