Life, 1916-03-16 · page 21 of 44
Life — March 16, 1916 — page 21: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The main cartoon depicts two figures in military dress attempting deception—the caption suggests someone trying to pass off civilian clothes as military uniform ("there's everything in the clothes one wears"), satirizing superficial military preparedness. The accompanying text discusses Secretary of War **Newton D. Baker**, praising his appointment while mocking Americans' deep skepticism about militarism and armies. Life sarcastically notes the public suspects armies cause harm rather than prevent it—a fundamental obstacle Baker must overcome through persuasion rather than compulsion. The article also defends **Colonel Edward House**, President Wilson's unofficial diplomat, against Senate critics who resented his foreign missions. Life argues House's experience and discretion make him valuable counsel, dismissing complaints about his unsanctioned role. The satire targets American pacifist sentiment during WWI preparedness debates, the tension between civilian and military leadership, and partisan opposition to Wilson's diplomatic methods.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
TRYING TO FOOL THEM “YES, DOVEY, THERE'S EVERYTHING IN THE CLOTHES ONE WEARS” extraordinary antipathy in this country to war, and says: Who knows but that the unique patience with which President Wil son has confronted the foreign prob- lems of his administration may not eventually the established rule of all international conduct? Who can say that the steady and unceasing revulsion of the American people against imperialism, external adventures and the whole doctrine of militarism may not communicate it- self to other nations and be accepted as the universal guide? become Who. knows? Nobody. Matters one year hence, five years hence, thirty years hence in this world scem all completely beyond calculation. The human mind is receiving a very deep impression. Nobody knows how it is going to work after the lessons of this profound calamity have been stamped into it. It has long been con- idered likely that war would be abol- ished by the development of destruc- tiveness. How much more destructive has it got to become? With such a start as has been made, is there any need of putting off Armageddon for another thirty years? Isn't this a suf- ficiently drastic proceeding that going on? R. BAKER, the new Secretary of War, has been mayor of Cleve- land, and was a friend and disciple of Tom Johnson, who had the dream of three-cent fares for street railroads. Another friend of Tom Johnson was Brand Whitlock (of Belgium). Mr. Wilson seems to like Tom Johnson's friends, but he will never rivet the street railway interests to his cause by appointing them to high offices. To bring the American people to riilitary preparation is very like bring- ing a colt up to a steam engine. It will take patience and gentle handling. The suspicion lurks in many minds that the next worse thing to a bad army is a good one, If Mr. Baker can allay this suspicion he will do a lot of good. here is an idea that armies are in- tended to hurt someone, and that, too, he will have to fight, for, as we all know, the truth is that what armies are for is to prevent folks from being hurt. Our people can’t be compelled to have a proper army, but maybe they can be persuaded. If Mr. Baker is a persuasive man like Mr. Whitlock, he may be just the man for the War De- partment OLONEL HOUSE has got home, and the distress of sundry news- papers and newspaper disputants be- cause of the presence abroad of an emissary not selected with the com- plicity of the Senate is now for the moment abated. He is back in good health and spirits with his reticence in good working order, and has been over to tell the President what he knows. If we were the President and what is up to Mr. Wilson was up to us, we should be mighty glad to have several hours’ conversation with a ju- dicious man who has been everywhere and seen everybody. We hope the complainers about Col- onel House may be able to reconcile themselves to his safe return, comicbooks.com