Life, 1918-04-04 · page 25 of 40
Life — April 4, 1918 — page 25: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes **Prohibition**, the constitutional ban on alcohol (1920-1933). The cartoons contrast two scenarios: **"We Would Have Less of This"** depicts an explosion at a building—likely representing illegal distilleries or speakeasies created by Prohibition's enforcement failures. **"If We Had More of This"** shows soldiers or law enforcement, suggesting more policing could theoretically prevent illegal alcohol production. **"As It Will Be in 1925"** is a poem by Berton Braley mocking Prohibition's absurdity. It parodies the romantic poem "Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes," transforming it into commentary on how Prohibition criminalizes even innocent gestures—a smile might be interpreted as intoxication by morality enforcers. The final section quotes Rep. Nicholas Longworth criticizing how Congress has become merely an "executive order" machine, lacking independent authority. **The satire's point**: Prohibition creates unintended consequences (bootlegging, violence) while invasively policing everyday behavior, and simultaneously weakens congressional power.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
WE WOULD HAVE LESS OF THIS MORE OF THIS Aowsucen. 561 As It Will Be in 1925 PDRINK time only’ with thine eyes, And I will toast with mine; For all the land is dry as dust, And we can't ask for wine. Don't leave a kiss within the cup— A kiss intoxicates. Inebriation is a crime In these United States. Drink to me only with thine eyes, And don't use them too much, Or you would make me drunk with bliss, And I would know the clutch Of legal hands upon my sleeve And languish in a cell, Because 1 drank your loving glance Q Not wisely but too well. Drink to me only with thine eyes, And do that on the sly, Lest those who guard our morals note You have a liquid eye. Let not your smile be one to make My spirit rise at all, For those who make the laws might think That spirit Alcohol! Berton Braley, His Subject ROWN: Jinks is a garru- lous creature, I must say. “iti: Yes, but he always ems to know what he’s talk- ing about. Brow He alwa I should say he did. s talks about himself. Our Republic? Things have come to a pretty pass in this country if legislation is to be simply tive order, if committees of this House are to be ing machine for the will of the Exe —Rep. atter of execu- mere register- icholas Longworth. comicbooks.com