Life, 1919-05-08 · page 20 of 46
Life — May 8, 1919 — page 20: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains several satirical pieces critiquing American political leadership during the post-WWI period (circa 1919). **The Poetry Section** ("Unshackled Verse") attacks Henry Ford, administration officials (appearing to reference George Creel and Albert Burleson, Wilson's censorship/postal officials), and Secretary of War Newton Baker. The author expresses frustration with government incompetence and calls for replacing the entire administration. **The Cartoon** shows a customs official forced to taste thousands of bottles of hair tonic to verify no alcohol is smuggled during Prohibition—a satirical jab at the absurdity of Prohibition enforcement. **"State Troops and the Peace Plan"** questions General O'Ryan's plan to reorganize New York's National Guard while peace negotiations occur in Paris. The satire suggests confusion: if international disarmament is negotiated, why establish state military forces? The piece mocks the apparent contradiction between peace rhetoric and military buildup. Overall, the page reflects wartime and post-war American skepticism toward government competence, military organization, and enforcement policies.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Unshackled Verse Henry HAVE a feeling That there is something the matter With Henry Ford. Do you know, Speaking of this, that It never troubles me If a man Has kinks in his brain? But, All the same, there is Something the matter With Henry. If 1 Were ] were an idealist I should try to be just To the other side. Yes, T would admit that There was somethi In it. T would say, just as an instance That we went into the war To make some of the world Safe for Democracy. But 1 should also remark quite Positively and emphatically That we also did it To save our necks. least Satiety AM so sick and tired Of all those administration Boobs, that I only wish W. W Could be persuaded to Get a new set. It’s all Very well to talk But I say that something Is due me as an American citizen Why, think of it! They JEHU BREAKS THE EIGHT-MINUTE RECORD Have a change of the Movies every night, and Even the New York Times Has An interesting editorial Oceasionally. But Creel and Burleson and—well, Friends, Romans and_profiteers, It's certainly pretty sad That we can’t Lay ‘em all off. Eh? Custom-House Official: THERe’s FIRe TEEN THOUSAND BOTTLES OF HAIR TONIC COMING IN TO-DAY, JON YOU'LL HAVE TO TASTE EVERY ONE TO SEE THERE’S NO nOOZE IN THE SHIPMENT. Nothing Doing! ‘OW, there's Baker Awful! T pondered In my excuse for a mind Why this was so. It Bored me horribly. Naturally wanted to be Fair. Then again, You've got to think of some- Thing when you are not Thinking of everything. Ba- Ker. It certainly wasn't because He was incon or anything Like that, because, well, Just because. But I Thought some more, and came Right there, | just came To the end of Baker! He's etent State Troops and the Peace Plan G ZSRAL O'RYAN, of the » Guard of State of New the reorganization of that body. commar ional York, is arrangi hopes for a state force of twenty thousand officers and men in time ‘or the resumption of armory drills in ‘le early fall. A thought obtrudes itself. What about the arrangement that is looked for as a detail of the peace | now hatching in Paris for lim of armament! In the world that is he, if Congress ratifies the peace plu can state troops be organized ad [i tum in these States as heretofore? Ccomicbooks.com