Life, 1915-12-09 · page 12 of 48
Life — December 9, 1915 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**The Cartoons:** Four 1916 automobile models are shown as satirical commentary, labeled "Twin-Six," "Self-Starter," "Light Runabout or Roadster," and "Truck." **Main Article - "Wanted: An Act of Will":** This discusses military preparedness and Congressional debate. The text critiques figures (appears to reference Bryan and Villard) for opposing military spending. The central illustration shows a Thanksgiving scene with the caption "NOW THAT THANKSGIVING IS OVER, LET US GIVE THANKS," suggesting ironic commentary on national priorities regarding military armament versus civilian concerns. **Secondary Article - "Men Know":** References the Armenian genocide ("a million Armenians were murdered"), questioning why Americans remain uninformed and asking whether news coverage matters. **Context:** This reflects pre-WWI American debates over military preparedness and isolationism, alongside awareness of overseas atrocities.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
SELF-STARTER Wanted: An Act of Will HE details of method in strength- ening our land and naval forces are important, of course, because, for one thing, so large an expenditure is involved. But the details are not the vital matter. What is vital is that Congress should express the will of the country. We want to know what is the conviction of the United States as to backing its great policies by force. The nation is not prepared at present, in material things, to fight. But is it ready in spirit? Given a cause or an opinion that seems to need armed support, will it fight for it? That is what we want Congress to determine. Bryan has not the will to fight. He thinks it un- christian, He shuffics about it more or less, but at the bottom he seems to be opposed even to such arma- ment as we have, Oswald Villard has not the will to fight He talks profusely, and not without knowledge, of how bad the army is and how we waste money on it, and a good deal of what he says is true. But it is not the talk of a man who wants a better army, but of a man who is trying to es eR ULEL 7 1916 MODELS kill the new army bill. He is out, not to help, but to hinder. The great question for Congress to settle is not how many troops or how trained, but whether the country is to go the way of Bryan and Villard or to be ready to back its opinions with “ NOW THAT THANKSGIVING IS OVER, LET US GIVE THANKS” LIGHT RUNAROUT OR ROADSTER guns on occasion, as heretofore. What is asked of Congress is an act of will, an act that will define our position. It is of that that the need is pressing. Provision for more soldiers and more ships is eyen more important because it is earnest language, than for its own sake. It will be notice given that the backbone of the United States is not yet hyphenated. It is quite possible that after this war good battleships can be bought at auction very cheap, and that all Europe will put its guns in the rack and apply itself earnestly to the support of life. We may be on the eve of the longest peace-spell ever known. None the less should Congress de- fine the people's will and give effect to it. Its action will be a factor in the peace that is coming. E. S. M. Men Know INCE a_ million Armenians were murdered and we could do nothing about it, it has be- come a question: Why read the papers? lf nothing that we say makes any difference, why know? comicbooks.com