Life — May 30, 1918 — page 14: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

On Secrecy MERICAN CITIZEN: retary of War? Mr. Baxer: Yes, sir. thought I recognized you. Mr. American Citizen. A.C. (somewhat flattered): know me so quick. Mr. Baker: everything and everybody. AC: also about guns and equipment and amm other things. Mr. Baker: Now, what Splendid! I am glad you are taking an interest in this vital question of supply- Now, what can I tell you? Speak up, sir, and you shall know all about it. Well, I want to know the facts, ing our army at the front. ALC: Mr. Baker: Facts! Why, don’t you Haven't you seen all the published repo: A. C.: But the whole thing is so terribly confusing that I cannot make head or tail of it. First 1 read that there are thousands of airplanes on their way, and then that only one has been shipped. Then I read that Mr. Chamberlain has denounced the ad- ministration, and the next day that what he says wasn't true. Then Mr. Borglum declares that it is worse than true, and somebody else denounces him, So where am 1? Mr. Baker: Well, we have to do this sort of thing so that the enemy will be misled. A. C.: What sort of thing? Mr. Baxer: Why, what you have just been complaining of. That's the modern art of secrecy, you know. First give out something misleading, then have it contradicted, until the con- troversy spreads, and nobody knows anything. A. C.: But how does that deceive the enemy? Mr. Baker: Why, the enemy, of course, reads all our papers, and when he gets through he doesn’t know any more than we do. A. C.: But doesn’t he have spies who keep him correctly informed? Mk. Baker: My dear fellow, there you go again. You have been reading in the newspapers about the German propaganda, All a myth. A.C.: Well, what am I to believe? Mr. Baker: Don't believe anything It’s the only safe you hear or read. way. A.C: But I am paying the bills; Is this the office of the Sec- Come right in and sit down. I If I am not mistaken this is I didn’t think you would My dear fellow, it is my business to know I came in to inquire about those airplanes, and can I do for you? nunition and a few to see that at last read the papers? rts? THE LASS THAT LOVED AN AVIATOR and I claim that I have a right to know how my money is being spent. Mr. Baker: Then you never were more mistaken in your life. You see, the modern art of war makes every- thing different. I know, because I have been at the front. On the contrary, it is just because you are paying the bills that you ought not to know how the money being spent. A.C.: But I don’t see why. Mr. Baker: Of course you don't see why. You are not a war expert, are you? You're just a plain Amer- ican citizen, just a common or garden tax payer. Perhaps you hadn’t thought about that. A. C. (doggedly): Yes, 1 had. I had thought about it a great deal. Mr. Baxter: Well, go home and think about it some more. Now, I don’t want to be unkind to you, but, really, you ought not to use up my time in this way. Besides, it distinctly takes away from your earning capacity. Good day, sir. Glad to have met you. T.L. M. The Iceman ’D somehow hate to be the Iceman (Though ours is certainly a nice man). In Winter, People fume and scold Because his Wares are much too cold, Yet later growl and look still glummer Because his Cakes will melt in Summer. His Weighs, they say, are Light, but Dark; And High Financial Experts mark The Wretch for Legislative Slaughter Because his Stock is wholly Water. And no one ever mentions Ice Except to rail against the Price. Arthur Guiterman. comicbooks Sorell