Life, 1917-08-30 · page 27 of 40
Life — August 30, 1917 — page 27: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two distinct satirical pieces critical of American policy during World War I. **Top cartoon**: A classroom scene depicting a future historian teaching children that America's decline began around 1900, caused by the draft system. The satire argues that selective service—which kept wealthy, educated men (those who could afford exemptions) safe while conscripting working-class and immigrant men—depleted the nation's best young talent, leaving only "aliens and sweat-shop workers" to defend the country. **Bottom section**: "Conscientious Objectors' Creed" sarcastically attacks pacifists and war resisters. It mocks their peace advocacy as weak sentiment ("milk and water," "flapdoodle") that enables wartime atrocities. The final line, "for the Kaiser's sake," directly attacks objectors as effectively aiding Germany. These pieces represent *opposing* viewpoints on WWI policy—the cartoon criticizes conscription practices, while the creed attacks those opposing war itself. Together they illustrate the intense debate surrounding American military involvement during this period.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
i 1 “MY HUSUAND WISHES 2000 A. D. (Lesson in History) “Now: children, be quict, and an- swer the questions promptly. When did the decline and fall of the United States begin?” “Tn rok.” “And the cause?” “Due to the war in Europe.” “Yes, we know that, but what was the specific cause?” “The draft system.” “Explain more fully.” “Well, they took all the best young country and left the worst.” men in th “You see, teacher, they had to have men for the army, in onder to defend the country against the barbarians. So ‘LIFE: NA 347 HE WERE DEAD, AND LAM BELNG WON OVER To HIS POINT oF VIEW" they made the physical examination so rigid that only the very best young men, those who had had money spent upon them, and were physically per- fect, could go. These young men were all promptly killed off, leaving only a mass of aliens and sweat-shop work- ers. These were easily conquered.” “What should have been done?” “A system should have been devised, based upon common sense, by whieh aliens and sweat-shop workers would have been drafted. This would even- tually have made them fit, and thou- sands of the best young Americans would also have been saved.” “Yes, children, this seems easy now to sce. But they were terribly iguo- rant, those Americans, and they paid for it with their lives and their coun- try" T.L. M. Conscientious Objectors’ Creed I BELIEVE in peace and in the de- termined obliteration of all feelings of wrath and indignation for crimes against humanit nd civilization. I ine endurance of all in- ing compliance with , destruction and helieve in a suj sults, and ina erin; the forces of bestiali lust. I believe in opening our gates to madmen and leaving our homes de- T believe that i war is to he fought, it should be fou, I believe in milk and water, in by some- y-pambyism and flapdood! gush and bunkum, in veiled eyes and soft hands, in mealy mouths and fat stomac! in the encouragement of cowardic veness of every- nv and in slavery everlasting, Amen. thing rot for the Kaiser’s sak