Life, 1916-04-27 · page 21 of 44
Life — April 27, 1916 — page 21: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page features political satire on two unrelated topics: **"Killing the Civil Service"** critiques a Senate bill allowing military veterans to bypass civil service exams for government jobs after six years' service. The author argues this undermines the merit-based system instituted by Grover Cleveland, which the magazine credits as the only efficient government mechanism. The satire suggests the exemption is inconsistent with how government otherwise operates. **"Too Strong"** responds to Colonel Edward F. Glenn's claim that the American army is "pathetic." The writer sarcastically agrees but challenges the comparison—is the army *more* pathetic than Congress, foreign policy, the subway system, or city management? The satire uses comparative ridicule to defend the military while mocking broader government incompetence. The opening illustration (artist: Otto Cushing) depicts classical figures in what appears to be a Roman amphitheater, illustrating the epigraph about slaughter and "imperial pleasure"—suggesting these government failings represent decay comparable to historical decline.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“Twas here the buzz of eager nations ran, In murmured pity, or loud roared applause, As man was slaughtered by his fellow man. And wherefore slau htered? Wherefore, but because Such were the bloody circus’ genial laws And the Imperial pleasure. Killing the Civil Service 'HE first step in killing the Civil Service has been taken in the Senate, where in a bill to provide for the na- tional defense it is stipulated that after six years’ service in the army a man can get a job in the government without ing any Civil Service examination. Since Grover Cleveland instituted the Civil Service, it has been about the only thing which has made our government efficient. But it is so inconsistent with all the other ways in which the government is administered that perhaps, after all, it is too out of place and ought to be abolished. OLITE people now speak of the Kaiser’s favorite ally as Herr von Gott. Too Strong The American army is the most pathetic thing that ever came along in history —Colonel Edward F, Glenn. UR first thought was to endorse Colonel Glenn's remark without equivocation. But in these days of over-state- ment one must be careful. Let u¢ go slow. Let us dis- criminate. Let us institute a careful investigation into the other pathetic things, in order, by a just comparison, that we may not be unfair to anybody. Is our army any more pathetic than our Congress? Is it any more pathetic than our foreign policy? Is it any more pathetic than our subway system or the way our cities are managed? Come now, Colonel, be fair! comicbooks.com