Life, 1917-04-26 · page 14 of 84
Life — April 26, 1917 — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This cartoon satirizes American pacifists during what appears to be the WWI era. Two well-dressed men in suits observe a jogger and a dog, with one asking "What on earth does Binks think he is doing?" The caption explains Binks is "a pacifist. He practices running away for an hour every evening." The accompanying essay by George W. Martin attacks pacifists as hypocritical and ineffective, criticizing their opposition to military preparedness while noting their resistance comes from those who profit from war. The text references figures like "Professor Phelps," "Col. Bryan," and "Oswald Villard" as pacifist leaders. The joke equates pacifism with cowardice through the image of constant running away.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“WHAT ON EARTH DO “HE'S A PACIFIST, HE PRACTICES Pacifists HE pacifists intend to inherit the earth, just like the rest of us. There are two kinds: the meek variety, typified by Professor Phelps, who insists that force has never accomplished anything permanent in the world and that martyrdom is the real and only source of progress; and the mercenaries, like Col. Bryan, who has long made a living exploiting the Prince of Peace for money. The latter variety is comparable only to the munition makers who want war on account of the accruing profit to them. Paradoxically, the pacifists do not adopt their theories in their own practice. The uninitiated might suppose that they would preach and practice non-resistance, and by their example and precept bring the country to a realiza- tion of the possibilities of the cult. On the contrary, they have conducted a most aggressive lobby and a lavish propa- ganda financed by Berlin in the same sardonic philosophy which leads Republicans to contribute to the campaign funds of the Socialist party in Democratic strongholds. BINKS THINK HE IS DOIN NING AWAY FOR AN HOUR EVERY EVENING.” The pacifists do not believe in preparedness; and yet their programme calls for far more preparation than that of the military party. Men have resisted for thousands of generations, and the habit is strong upon them, To make a whole nation meek calls for an amount of preparation which staggers the imagination. Some incorrigibles like Mr. Choate or President Eliot are almost sure to shoot an invader at the last moment, and so spoil our perfect score. “These frailer brethren must be educated up to the idea. The militarists train themselves and give demonstrations— why not the pacifists? Instead of making all this noise resisting preparedness, we suggest that Col. Bryan, Amos Pinchot and Oswald Villard go over to Belgium and offer themselves as martyrs. And in case the Germans fail to see the point; why, we.are in the war already, anyhow. George W. Martin, “DUT are you fair, sir? “Fair! I don’t have to be fair. size.” I'm twice your comicbooks.com