Life, 1915-10-21 · page 14 of 52
Life — October 21, 1915 — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This political cartoon depicts Congress (caricatured as a devilish figure wearing a "Congress" top hat) issuing military orders to a U.S. Army soldier. Congress instructs the soldier to prepare for potential invasion and defend American coasts, with detailed instructions about mobilizing forces across the eastern, western, and southern territories, defending the Canadian border, and preparing for possible uprisings by "foreign-born inhabitants." The satire critiques Congress's militaristic approach and apparent paranoia about invasion and internal subversion. The soldier appears burdened by these extensive, detailed orders. A sketch of a Capitol building appears in the upper right, likely referencing the sketch Congress wants for a public building. The cartoon suggests Congress is overreaching with military preparations and suspicious attitudes toward immigrants.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
| ih} I al Drees Congress: “TI want you to hold your- self in readiness to run down and pacify Mexico at a moment's notice, and, in case of invasion by a hostile power, be prepared to de- fend the eastern, western and southern coasts of these United States. In the meantime you may be called possessions and uphold the dignity of this great nation at all upon to scatter yourself through the interior in event of an times. : uprising by our foreign-born inhabitants and to mobilize yourself “You, I believe, have now an appointment to pose for a on the Canadian border should trouble arise there. In the moving-picture company, and if they finish with you before interval it will be necessary for you to maintain our sover- the expiration of this administration you may return here for eignty in the Philippines, Hawaii and in other of our cherished further instructions of similar import.” comicbooks.com