Life, 1916-06-01 · page 17 of 44
Life — June 1, 1916 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical piece mocks the Wilson administration's control of information and management competence. The author argues the government should publish its own newspaper since "the object of all government is to keep the people misinformed." The satire proposes cabinet members for editorial roles, each a pointed jab: Secretary of State as managing editor, Josephus Daniels (Navy Secretary) writing children's columns, William Jennings Bryan covering Wall Street, Postmaster General Burleson running puzzles, Secretary of War Baker heading the joke column (sarcastically noting army "doings"), and Vice President Marshall writing obituaries. The accompanying illustration depicts rural workers clearing land—likely representing productive labor contrasted with government incompetence. **Life's Ticket** mockingly nominates Henry Ford for president and Woodrow Wilson for vice-president (inverting their actual relationship), with the slogan "Peace with Honor"—likely referencing Wilson's 1916 re-election campaign promise. The humor targets perceived government inefficiency, secrecy, and the incompetence of specific officials.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
It Ought to Be Done have often wondered why there is no official organ published at Wash- ington which will serve as a direct mouthpiece of the party in power. The Congressional Record is merely a copy of the proceedings in Congress, arranged in sch a manner as to be impossible for intelligent person to read. ow practically every prominent finan- cial or social power has its appropriate organ. The undertakers are well repre- sented by a number of official organs. Why not the government? The object of all government is to keep the people misinformed about what it is doing. A government therefore ought by all means to be represented by a newspaper. It is true that there are papers known as administration organs. INCURARLES But, in addition to government matters, they keep people misinformed about a great many other things. This leads to a diffusion of interest. There should be a paper exclusively devoted to represent- ing the government. The President could be the editor-in-chicf, and the Secretary of State the managing editor. The chil- dren's sayings columns could, for in- stance, be conducted by Josephus Daniels. Mr. Bryan could, in the present instance, be called in to write the daily Wall Street letter. Mr. Burleson could be placed in charge of the puzzle department. As a starter, he could offer a series of prizes for ‘anyone who could guess the nearest as to how much the post office is costing us, Mr. Baker could be placed in charge of the joke column, recording under this head the doings of our army. Obituaries by the Vice-President. Life’s Ticket For Presipent HENRY FORD For Vice-PResipent WOODROW WILSON Our Slogan PEACE ®t" HONOR comicbooks.com