Life, 1918-09-12 · page 11 of 34
Life — September 12, 1918 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes **press censorship during World War I**. The dialogue shows a Director of Public Suppression ordering his Assistant to delay newspaper publication and suppress war news—deliberately keeping the public uninformed "for at least 24 hours." The cartoon below illustrates the contrast: American soldiers "over there" receive the Iron Cross (a German military decoration), while American civilians "over here" receive nothing but censored, delayed information. The satire criticizes the U.S. government's information control strategy during the war, suggesting that while soldiers sacrifice abroad, Americans at home are treated like the enemy through deliberate news suppression. The "U.S. Army" scale underscores the military's role in this propaganda effort.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“LIFE: Exceptional from the newspapers and_ periodicals ee of America (4 Possibility) ASSISTANT (snatching it avway from FFICE of the Chief Aim and reading its contents rapidly): Director of Public Sire! Suppression Dixector (still absorbed in account Persons: The Dircetor, of @ prise fight): Well? His Assistant Assistant: Here is a petition f Time: Near future? e Press of the Country. The Assistant: Good morn- already coming out a day late, and im- ing, sire. Pardon, you are late. Plore you to release to-day’s material Dieecto: Well, well, what's at once; otherwise there will be no newspapers at all to-morrow—except, of course, Mr. Hearst's. Dixrctox: Ha! That's the idea is it? Well, I'l whisper a. secret Assistant: What secret, sire? Director (cheerfully): 1 was late to be done Assistant: There’s a mass of material waiting to he released. The newspapers will all be late to-day—very late. Directox: Teach 'em a lesson! lave you read over this wire news? this morning on purpose. “On pi se! Assistant: As much as 1 had EV OEPS EE 5 “Yes, Let the presses of the coun- = time to. Dixreror: Anything interest (The telephone rings, The Assistant, illing hastily to several stenographers, proceeds to transmit the news items he what in a short time we shall be able without them at all? | VE been reading all the war books.” try wait, Let's keep the papers from coming out at all to-morrow ; and then, VERY LARGE POR IHS AGE if nothing happens, who knows but s. This process lasts some time to get along s conclusion the conversation is Assistant: Except Mr. Hearst's. “What for? wd.) Dirretox: Oh, yes!—always except- “Well, | wanted to get away from Assistant: It might be well, sire, ing Mr. Hearst’s! the reality of it for you to pass on this stuff. They want to know something fairly ap- proximating the truth, and now the nly thing that comes out regularly is our Official Bulletin—and, of course, the Hearst papers Dinre Never forget the Hearst papers. Look here! Don't you make aiy suggestions to. me. 1 know my business. These poor fools of the press may as well understand, once for all, that the time has gone by when they can indulge in any individual expres- sion of opinion. You have notified them, [ presume, that hereafter all editorials will be suppressed? Assistant: Yes, sire Dixectox: Except Mr. Hearst ASSISTANT Oh, yes! Always ex- cepting Mr. Hearst's Digectox Hina Well vw. Tet me run over this news and co what's fit to print. (Leisure lights a cigar, Enter a messenuer.) Assistant: Where i 1 ary SEUCTONS oD A eee printers, editors. journalists and printers’ devils shal OVER THERE AN OVER HERE homage to the Director and his wyyue some AMERICANS ARF HONORED — OTHER “ AMERICANS” ARF RECEIVING THE Your honor, 1 bear a petition WITIE THE CROIX DE GUERKE, IRON CKOSS comicbooks.com