Life, 1919-12-18 · page 19 of 56
Life — December 18, 1919 — page 19: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains post-WWI political satire centered on **Herbert Hoover**, the U.S. Food Administrator during and after World War I. The main poem praises Hoover's work feeding Allied nations during the war and his continued efforts maintaining global stability afterward. However, the satire appears critical: it portrays Hoover as perpetually intervening—"keeping folks from misbehaving"—suggesting he wields excessive influence over international affairs through food distribution as a control mechanism. The cartoons reinforce this: "The Siamese Twins" depicts two figures labeled "United We Stand, Divided We Fall," likely representing European nations dependent on American food aid for stability. The "Hard Rubber" section critiques press manipulation, suggesting newspapers suppress truths about political figures (possibly referencing Hoover's expanding power). The "Wife" cartoon jokes about olive oil, unrelated to the main content. Overall, the page satirizes how Hoover leveraged humanitarian food aid as a tool of geopolitical control during reconstruction.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
‘LIFE? AN ANTE-CHRISTMAS SUGGESTION FOR FLAT-DWELLEKS Hard Rubber Grover Crevetaxn Wore Rereek Jaw Wits Prest- pent.—Newspaper headline O it seems. The jaw was put in in 93, and he wore it the rest of his life. He had it in ‘05 when he sent the Venezuelan message to England. There might be a new conundrum: “When is rubber not rubber?” Or perhaps it is enough to make a note that rubber in some of its manifestations is a substance that does not give. HE suppression of truth is often unconscious, and reaches its climax in the newspapers. FRED, WHY DON'T THEY EVER STRIKE AN OLIVE OIL WELL? i013 Hoover N the war so lately finished many larders grew diminished And we heard a call for food from our allies So to fill that need gigantic, from across the broad Atlantic, We brought Hoover home to handle our supplies. He had saved the Belgian babies from the mad rabies, He was modest, but a good man can’t be hid. We craved his ministrations to assist our brother nations And to send them food to fight on—and he did! Teutonic It was, “ Hoover, Hoover, Hoover, Here’s a job for you to do. It’s a difficult manceuver, But you'll have to put it through ; For youve got to feed the millions Of the soldiers and civilians, And you've got to stop the folks who waste and rob;” And who did it? Who but Hoover? Food Administrator Hoover, On the Job! Now the cruel war is over, bi he world is not in clover; There's a restlessness beyond accounting for. Yet this Hoover chap’s still waving; keeping folks from mis behaving, And restraining little lands from making war. For despite his calm demeanor there is no one any keener To the feel of scheme and plot and counter-plot ; When the air with rumor's stirring, ere the rumpus starts oc- curring, You'll find Hoover with his foodstutls on the spot! Oh, it's * He Here's K c Will you soothe her and rep For the situation’s bad. nS are worried, The Halians all are flurried And you'll have to check the Czechs from raising hob And who does it? Who but Hoover? Food Administrator Hoove On tke Job! RY meee THE SIAMESE TWINS “ UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE FALL” comicbooks.com