Life — June 12, 1913 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Political Cartoon Analysis: Life Magazine, Page 1161 This page satirizes anti-Japanese sentiment in California during the early 20th century. The main cartoon depicts a figure labeled "AND HAST THOU SLAIN THE JABBERWOCK?" — referencing Lewis Carroll's nonsense poem to mock dramatic overreaction to Japanese immigration. The article discusses Japanese laborers in California, acknowledging their work contributions while expressing concerns about their "separation" from American society. The text argues they cannot assimilate and should be kept segregated, reflecting the era's xenophobic attitudes. The secondary cartoon ("WISH I COULD") shows a figure trapped in a storage box, likely commenting on restrictions or containment of Japanese workers. The overall tone treats Japanese immigration as a manageable "problem" requiring control, reflecting widespread racist ideology of that period.