Life, 1918-06-20 · page 26 of 36
Life — June 20, 1918 — page 26: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The top cartoon depicts a "well-ordered nation"—figures in military/formal dress wielding weapons and implements of war, satirizing militarism and government authority. The "Open Letters" mock wealthy industrialist John D. Rockefeller's charitable donations during wartime. The first letter, attributed to Life magazine, sarcastically warns Rockefeller against *over-giving* to the Red Cross, feigning concern he'll become a public burden—absurdist humor critiquing extreme wealth inequality. The second letter (apparently from Hon. Claude Kitchin, a congressman) uses obvious falsehoods (polar bears in Cuba, cotton in Maine) to mock Rockefeller's public statements favoring certain tax policies, suggesting his claims are equally ridiculous. The bottom cartoon shows a wealthy woman and caddie at golf; she asks which club to use, and he sarcastically suggests a dustpan and brush—mocking the frivolity of the wealthy playing golf while the nation mobilizes for war ("the boys" needing uniforms and ships, per the text). The overall theme: wartime criticism of wealth, privilege, and the disconnect between the rich and national sacrifice.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
D o— —__ A “WELL ORDERED " Some Open Letters To John D. Rockefeller, EAR SIR: I see by the papers that, while you have an income tax for the current fiscal year of over thirty-eight millions on which to pay, you have also, right on top of this, given two hundred thousand dol- lars to the Red Cross, and I ask you, sir, to pause before you go too far. It is right, of course, for every patriotic citizen to give to the Red Cross, or to his coun- try, until it hurts, but this does not necessarily mean that he shall run the risk of becoming a charge on the community. Have you considered this carefully? The question is, naturally, whether you have not already done enough by paying an income tax on thirty-eight millions. Ought you to go on after this, and gradually get into the habit of becoming so reckless with what little money you may have left as to cause us to worry about what is going to happen to you in case you should be left without any means of support? You must not forget that in ordinary times most of us could help you out with the loan of a few dollars to tide you over. But just now, when we have to buy uniforms for the boys and ships and other things, we don’t see how we could possibly do anything for you. So please consider what you are doing. Remember it is your duty to look out for yourself. Remember that al- though Uncle Sam has done what he could to take care of you in the past he is so busy now that he might, possibly, overlook your more urgent needs. Affectionately yours, Lire. Hor. Claude Kitchin. Dear I notice by the papers that you state that, so far as you can judge, or words to that effect, most of the newspapers and magazines appear to favor the zone system, had NATION and it gives me great pleasure to tell you that, in corrobora- tion of your distinguished views, I have also noticed similar things. For example, I am glad to state that, so far as my personal observations extend, all the birds fly south in sum- mer and north in winter; that polar bears are becoming so plentiful in Cuba and South America as to be a menace to democracy in those regions; that cotton is now growing in Maine, and that congressmen are all unanimously in favor of having an excess-profits tax taken off their salaries. Hoping that this will find you the same, I am, with great respect, Unmendaciously yours, Lire. Fis! BD: Lon DWE fit Novice: WHAT CLUB SHALL I USE, CADDIE? “WELL, I GUESS A DUSTPAN AN’ BRUSH'D BE ABOUT DE T'ING FER YE, MA'AM.’ O A Suppo es 0 g SIt'd mld na Exact ¢ Fran! The I cause i 770 mile: at the The : ace, Wi allons— Why Simp at weis nore po