Life, 1917-03-15 · page 15 of 42
Life — March 15, 1917 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes **Professional Prohibitionists**—activists pushing alcohol bans through legislation. The main dialogue features Rev. Jeremiah Stiggins (a character type representing stern temperance advocates) discussing their movement's tactics with "Life" magazine's editor. The satire targets their methods: intimidating politicians, compiling "salary lists" of opponents, and threatening electoral consequences. The text mocks their hypocrisy—claiming moral superiority while using aggressive political pressure and funded campaigns ($100,000 stock mentioned). The bottom cartoon shows crowded elevators labeled "Going Up" and "To the Basement," likely representing the prohibition movement's rise in political power and influence. The piece ridicules temperance activists as sanctimonious zealots using modern corporate and political machinery—not genuine moral persuasion—to enforce their agenda.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ERE: Sanctum Talks O this is my friend, Lire. It is, and you happen to be— The Rev. Jeremiah Stiggins. And what is your business, Mr. Stig- gins? I am what is known as a Profession- al Prohibitionist. A new profession. What do you Professional Prohibitionists do? We down the Demon Rum. Who is “we”? The Anti-Saloon League. And what is the Anti-Saloon League? A perfectly solvent corporation with $100,000 capital stock. And stockholders? Seven of them. And a salary list? A very large one. And where do you get your money for salaries? From those who wish to save our boys from the Demon Rum. From rich persons? We obtain large sums from rich per- sons, but we do not disdain the pennies of Sunday-school children nor the widow's mite. And this pays the salaries. get the salaries? Professional Prohibitionists, And what do they do? Frighten Congressmen, members of dear little Who ELEVATOR [eesacg ro THE BASEMENT. the State legislatures and_ politicians generally. How do you frighten them? By telling them we'll throw the Pro- hibition vote against them, Others we put on our salary list. And you are successful in this? Very. We can frighten an office- holder or a politician out of his boots. Alcohol will soon disappear from the face of the earth. And then everything will be joyful. Do you really think moderate drinking should be made a state’s prison of- fense? We do. The invention of alcohol was one of God's most serious mistakes. But we will correct it. And others? Yes; we shall next tackle that other Demon—tobacco, God also erred in creating the tobacco plant. But what are you Professional Pro- hibitionists going to do for salaries after you have locked up all the drink- ers and smokers? We'll find something else. probably pass laws pro! American citizen from kissing his wife on Sunday. But, Mr. Stiggins. Yes, Lire. Do you remember what Mr. Lincoln said about fooling all the people all the time? He was not referring to the Demon Rum. And do you remember what another nie, DROPPING THE PILOT Revered Person said about the matter of precedence in removing beams and motes? I don't Know to whom you refer. Of course not. But, Mr. Stiggins— Yes, Lire. The door is directly behind you. And don’t forget to collect your next month's salary. Indeed I won't, Lire. ing. Good morning, reverend sir, Good morn- ELEVATOR comicbooks.com