Life, 1915-05-13 · page 19 of 52
Life — May 13, 1915 — page 19: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**The Cartoon (left):** A man at a cigarette/candy/stationery kiosk asks a woman if his face is "good for a box of cigarettes." She retorts his face might be better suited for a "tobacco pouch"—a crude insult implying his face is ugly and leathery. **The Editorial Letter (main text):** An advertiser complains that *Life* magazine's anti-alcohol editorial (April 1st) undermines his gin advertisement's effectiveness. **The Magazine's Response:** *Life* defends its editorial independence, arguing that newspapers maintaining self-respect don't let advertisers dictate content. The editors pointedly note that *Life* still accepts liquor ads despite running temperance critiques—proving it hasn't been corrupted by advertising pressure. The implicit point: editorial integrity matters more than advertiser comfort. **Historical Context:** This likely reflects Progressive Era debates over prohibition and journalistic ethics during a period when alcohol advertising was increasingly controversial.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“SAY, LITTLE ON: IS MY FACE GOOD FOK A BOX OF CIGARETTES?” “NO—BUT IT MIGHT DO FOR A TOBACCO roucH.” To a Correspondent “We advertised “s Gin in your April —th issue, and you must realize that editorials, such as the one referred to (in Lire, April 1st), neutralize any beneficial effect that might be obtained by us from ad- vertising in your publication.” E recognize nothing of the sort. If our friend and correspondent can advertise his gin in the Church- man, the (Baptist) Examiner, the various (Methodist) Advocates, the Watchman, the Spirit of Missions and other papers, a list of which can be provided for him, his advertising will be well placed, entirely irrespec- tive of the editorial estimates those papers may put on the value of gin. The fact that Lire still accepts liquor advertisements implies that it is not yet teetotal, and has not yet come out for prohibition, in spite of all that can be said in disparagement of “rum”, No paper that shapes its LOVE WILL FIND A WAY opinions by its advertising columns is likely long to maintain the value of its advertising space, To sell opinions is lawful in many professions, but not in journalism. A paper that values its self-respect will not even sell silence.