Life, 1916-11-23 · page 23 of 40
Life — November 23, 1916 — page 23: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The cartoon depicts a business negotiation between two men in an office. The younger man (on the left) proposes a partnership to "Uncle Silas" (the older, established businessman on the right), offering him a chance to join before he considers outside propositions. The satire comments on American business tactics and self-interest: the younger man frames the partnership offer as a *favor* to Uncle Silas, when he's actually seeking his own advantage. The accompanying article discusses President Wilson's phrase "too proud to fight," made after the 1915 Lusitania sinking. Wilson's words, intended to express American moral superiority, were misquoted and exaggerated by the public to suggest cowardice. The article defends Wilson's actual position while acknowledging his genuine reluctance toward war—critiquing how context matters and how statements become distorted. Together, the page satirizes American attitudes: business opportunism and the gap between intended and received meaning in public discourse.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
* LDPE? LEE SEA SIE, CGD CZZZZZZZZ ZG, “BEFORE CONSIDERING ANY OUTSIDE PROPOSITIONS, UNCLE SILAS, I THINK IT ONLY PAIR TO OFFER YOU A CHANCE TO TAKE ME INTO PARTNERSHIP.” Fateful Words RESIDENT WILSON'’S phrase, “too proud to fight,” has attained such a world-renown that everyone ought to know precisely what he said and how he came to say it. On May toth, 1915, three days after the sinking of the Lusitania, he made a.speech in Philadelphia to a gathering of newly naturalized citizens in course of which he said: So a nation that is not constantly renewed out of new sources is apt to have the narrowness and prejudice of a family; whereas, America must have this consciousness that on all sides it touches elbows and touches hearts with all the nations of man- kind. The example of America must be a special example. The example of America must be the example not merely of peace, because it will not fight, but of peace because peace is the healing and elevating influence of the world and strife is not. There is such a thing as a man be- ing too proud to fight. There is such a thing as a nation being so right that it does not need to convince others by force that it is right. These words, taken by themselves, are true and quite harmless. But taken in relation to the state of the public mind about the Lusitania, they did disclose the President's solicitude to get along without going to war. Their effect was tragical. Taken out of their context and inaccurately quoted, they have exaggerated uncon- scionably Mr, Wilson's reluctance to have our nation come to blows with anybody. And yet he is reluctant enough in all truth. Popular Misconceptions TH Columbus discovered Amer- ica. That New York night life is “merry and gay.” That a soldier's life is a thrilling one. That George M. Cohan designed the American flag. That vers libre is an ingredient of a cocktail. That there are “ Bohemians” in New York. comicbooks.com