Life — March 28, 1918 — page 27: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This Life magazine cartoon satirizes governmental bureaucracy and administrative backlog. Three men are depicted in an office drowning in paperwork and documents marked with various requests ("IMPERATIVE," "URGENT," etc.). The standing figure addresses "Woodrow" (likely President Woodrow Wilson), offering assistance with the overwhelming workload. Wilson's response—"I'm only two years behind"—is the satirical punch line, suggesting the administration is hopelessly backlogged despite claiming they'll eventually catch up. The cartoon critiques the inefficiency of government during Wilson's presidency, depicting how administrative duties had accumulated into an unmanageable mountain of bureaucratic work. The humor lies in the absurdity of being two years behind schedule while confidently insisting improvement is forthcoming.