Life, 1918-02-14 · page 16 of 40
Life — February 14, 1918 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This 1918 *Life* magazine page satirizes American political opportunism during World War I. The main cartoon depicts a storefront window labeled "Unredeemed Pledges" displaying a heartbroken figure—likely representing a woman or civilian—suggesting abandoned war promises or failed commitments. The accompanying text presents a mock "Patriots' Party of America" platform, which Kenneth L. Roberts uses to skewer political grandstanding. The platform demands military competence, strong leadership, suppression of pacifists, and total victory in France—ostensibly patriotic but actually lampooning politicians who claim patriotism while accomplishing little. The bottom section, "Non-Essentials That Should Carry Tax," continues the satire by listing ridiculous complaints (golf stockings, nostalgia for old winters) and unfounded conspiracy theories (Wall Street caused the war), mocking the public's misplaced priorities during wartime. The cartoon and text together critique both self-serving politicians and the gullible citizenry who embrace simplistic patriotic rhetoric.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
256 The Platform of the Patriots’ Party of America THE name of this party shall be * the Patriots’ Party of America. It shall be made up of Democrats, Re- publicans, Progressives, So , Pro- hibitionists and members of any other known or unknown political parties, provided only that they are filled with desire to uphold the honor and the glory of the United States of America and to eradicate from our government the incompetents and the petty politi- cians who seek in their abysmal igno- rance and selfishness to bring shame and disaster upon this nation and its sons. . 2. The Patriots’ Party of Ameri demands the unconditional and imme- diate ejection from the War Depart- ment of the blunderers on whom rests the blame for our army’s lack of guns, of uniforms, of supplies and of a pro- gram to carry on our war to a suc- cessful conclusion, i 3. The Patriots’ Party of America demands the immediate enlistment of the services of leaders whose capabili- ties have been tested in years gone by, and whose words and deeds have been such as to permit the people of this HW tion to place unbounded trust and con- fidence in them. 4. The Patriots’ Party of America demands that administration cuckoos, poll-parrots and toadies be tossed into the discard now, and that they be sup- planted by large-calibre men with the BONES Very Thin Mind-Reader: stove it NOW! 1 KNOW YOU'RE WONDERING WHERE YOU CAN BURY ME, STILL power and the nerve to think, act and tell the truth. 5. The Patriots’ Party of Ame demands the immediate suppression of pacifists, conscientious objectors, sus- pected enemy aliens and advocates of peace without victory. 6. The Patriots’ Party of America demands that nothing under heaven be left undone to establish the Stars and Stripes in France, and to maintain it there unblemished until it floats in vic- tory above the conquered barbarian hordes, the emblem of freedom, of liberty and of the rights of man. Kenneth L. Roberts. IN THE BUSINESS Non-Essentials That Should Carry a One Hundred Per Cent. Tax ONGRESSIONAL | travel the coal shortage. during Investigations that don’t get any re- sults. People who say that we don't have good old-fashioned winters any more. Golf stockings that irritate the leg ha 'y day-coaches wi Persons who how! because they to travel in ordi the com non herd. Those who think that Wall Street caused the war,