Life — January 29, 1920 — page 19: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

The main cartoon depicts a man in formal dress standing next to a car labeled "PROHIBITION," holding a sign reading "IT'S THE UPKEEP OF THE DARN MACHINE THAT WORRIES ME." This satirizes Prohibition enforcement costs and difficulties. The figure appears to represent someone struggling to maintain the unpopular policy—likely a government official or supporter. The "upkeep" complaint suggests Prohibition was proving expensive and burdensome to enforce. The accompanying text discusses newspaper vigilance regarding liberty and press freedom, mentioning the Herald and Evening Telegram. A smaller cartoon below shows figures singing, apparently mocking enforcement efforts. The page dates to America's Prohibition era (1920-1933), when the policy faced mounting practical and financial challenges despite legal mandate.