Life, 1916-05-11 · page 30 of 48
Life — May 11, 1916 — page 30: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a WWI-era satirical page criticizing American political leadership's handling of military preparedness. **The Poetry** ("The Conquerors"): A dramatic verse mourning German military victories in Europe while invoking French revolutionary spirit, suggesting future revenge—reflective of Allied frustration circa 1916. **The Cartoons**: The left sketch shows a bear hunter claiming he's "not hunting bears"—likely mocking American neutrality rhetoric while covertly preparing for war. The right cartoon depicts "Congress" as a skeletal figure being directed by Uncle Sam to "Hang the Expense!"—satirizing military spending debates. **"Women Favor Preparation"**: Reports that Swedish and Belgian women support military training, contrasting with socialist pacifism. The implied criticism: women recognize war's reality while male politicians debate. **"Favorite Quotations"**: Mock quotes attribute absurdist statements to Wilson, Kaiser Wilhelm, Lansing, Roosevelt, Bryan, Hughes, and Ford—ridiculing their actual positions on defense spending, war strategy, and political maneuvering during America's pre-entry period. The page's overall message: American leaders are ineffectual and contradictory about military readiness.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
‘LIFE * The Conquerors To the Kaiser HEY have gone by above our broken dead, With lifted spears and eagles to the sky, Azure and gold and crimson banners fly In salutation of each laureled head. The thunder of their chariot wheels, the tread Of conscript hosts, have stunned us to comply. Their martial music has brayed down the cry Of women hearts that mourn for those who bled. Aye, through the cycles of ensanguined days, Over our piteous and defeated dead, In splendor and in pomp they have gone by. Yet once we sang the rebel “ Marscillaise,” And once the Commune chilled their hearts with dread: We do but wait—the Great Revenge draws nigh! : Walter Adolphe Roberts. “ HONEST, I AIN'T A-HUNTIN’ NO BEARS!” “HANG THE Exrense!”” Women Favor Preparation HE Evening Post reports from Stockholm that at the last election the Socialists, who oppose preparation for war, hoped to upset the Storthing’s decision in favor of ninety days’ training, but the women voters went pre- dominantly for it. The women of every country have a deep interest in hav- ing their men properly trained and equipped for national defense. If anyone doubts that, ask any Belgian woman about it. Favorite Quotations of Famous Men RESIDENT WILSON: “Millions for defense—and an adequate appropriation for stenographers and sta- tionery!” Kaiser Witnets: “If 'tVerdun when 'tVerdun, then "twere well 'tVerdun quickly.” Secretary Lansinc: “Marking time, marking time, in a sort of German rhyme.” Turovort Roosevent: hat!” “Infirm of purpose, give me the Wa. J. Bryan: “He who fights—then disappears—may live to lecture many years,” Justice Hucurs: “Better four years in the White House than a cycle of S. J.” Henry Forv: “ Fords rush in where autos fear to tread.”