Life, 1918-02-07 · page 30 of 40
Life — February 7, 1918 — page 30: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page features readers' letters to *Life* magazine addressing three serious WWI-era issues: **Red Cross Controversy**: A correspondent defends the Red Cross's medical research funding; *Life's* editors counter that publicizing misappropriation serves reform. This reflects contemporary debates over vivisection (animal testing) in medical research. **Wilson vs. Preparedness**: A letter criticizes President Wilson for underestimating military preparedness before US entry into WWI (April 1917), contrasting his caution with Theodore Roosevelt's earlier warnings. The writer questions Wilson's leadership foresight. **South Dakota Correction**: A reader corrects *Life's* error about South Dakota's alcohol status, reflecting Prohibition's progression (the state went dry in July 1917, before national Prohibition in 1920). The advertisements below are period curiosities: seed packets, novelty cigar lighters, and doughnut promotions—typical early 20th-century marketing. The page reflects serious wartime concerns mixed with editorial corrections and nostalgic period advertising.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Red Cross Money Life Publishing Co. GENTLEME You have published sev- eral articles in your columns protesting against the appropriation of one hundred thousand dollars, by the American Red Cross, to “so-called medical research work.” Please make a statement in your paper that you do, or do not, support the Red Cross. If you do support it, don’t you think the proper place to protest against certain appropriations is. to the Red Cross, who can act, and not to the public, who can merely be encouraged in withholding gifts? Yours truly, Lieut, H. F. D. Camp Taylor, Ky., Jan. 11, 1918. We have given our hundreds of dol- lars to the Red Cross. We may give more. When funds have been misappropri- ated a public knowledge of the fact is a powerful factor toward restitution and reform. In giving publicity to this matter Lire is fulfilling a duty not only to all opponents of needless cruelty, but to the American Red Cross itself. LIFE Our Condolences Life Publishing Company. Gextuemes: On page 16 of your issue for January 3 you refer to South Dakota as an alcoholic state. I am sorry that you are in error, and have made this mistake in your paper. South Dakota closed its saloons and breweries on the first of last July. Yours very truly, Hetes Jacouses. Hudson, Ohio, Dec. 5, 1917. What Is a Leader? Editor Lire: Get down to facts. You say Mr. Wil- son “did try months before the war.” Is this a fact? When Roosevelt, Wood, Gardiner, Lodge and others advocated preparedness did he not refer to them as “nervous gentlemen”? After his flam- boyant preparedness tour, did he not let Garrison and preparedness go for Baker and unpreparedness? After war was de- clared did he not send Congress home, and only called it at the urgent demand of preparedness men all over the coun- try? What Roosevelt said—three years - —two years—one year ago—everybody is saying now. A leader can only be judged by his ability to foresee emergencies and to pre- pare for them. No one knows this better than you, Either Roosevelt was right or Wilson was right, Which was it? Yours, A. Parraneosess-Maw. Omaha, Nebraska, Jan. 20, 191 One of Many Letters Life Publishing Co. Deax Sins: T hope you will publish a protest against the officials of the Red Cross from misappropriating its funds to carry on medical research work in the form of vivisection. It will certainly limit the good work which it is otherwise doing for our sol- dies by preventing thousands of sub- scribers to the Red Cross from renewing their subscriptions when the present money in hand gives out. Yours truly, Wx. H. Attey. Santa Barbara, Cal., Dec. 1, 1917. OUR husband is very considerate, isn't he?” “ Wonderfully so; he hasn't been near me for a year.” Advertisements You Have Never Seen is Head OF Cabbag Up. thou OF Curiosity = TOPHET CIGAR. LIGHTER! Trer Do Nor Requae Rerating~ EEE We Pat he Enoven Connist “rpct Liguo To Runes Mean Aro Bice. Ask fo see this pocket calamity. ‘Doveu ‘DoYou fare Visrons ? | Serve Then OLD OAKEN DOUGHNUTS) “AT YOUR DEALERS-OR BY FREIGHT. ust Guarentee 7 SPEED the paaTinG | comichooks Bam