Life, 1920-03-11 · page 17 of 40
Life — March 11, 1920 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes the Russian Bolshevik Revolution (circa 1917-1920s) by imagining American dogs forming their own communist "Dog's Soviet." The joke mocks both communist ideology and contemporary labor unrest. The "Platform of the Dog's Soviet Council" parodies communist demands—standardized resources, shorter work hours, abolition of class distinctions (cats as enemies), removal of restrictions (collars as oppression), pensions for war service, and organized labor walkouts by dog "unions" (Terriers, Collies, Boston Bulls). The satire works on multiple levels: it trivializes revolutionary rhetoric by applying it to dogs' mundane complaints (bones, sleep, teasing boys), while implicitly mocking American labor movements that were adopting similar tactics. The accompanying cartoons show everyday frustrations: apartment hunting and social embarrassment—unrelated humor typical of *Life*'s miscellaneous satirical format. The satire reflects post-WWI American anxiety about communist ideology spreading to the U.S.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Confirmed Apartment Hunter: wow mteat SWISS MOVEMENT More Trouble! We understand, on very good authority, that the dogs of the United States, being grossly dissatisfied with iving conditions in general, have formed a Dog’s Soviet. hrough the courtesy of our own dog, we are enabled to print the important details of this revolutionary movement rin advance of any other publication. Platform of the Dog's Soviet Council Immediate standardization of bones. \n cight-hour sleep. Open shop (butcher's). fotal abolition of cats. Naturalization of mongrels, irrespective of origin Tariff revision of dog tax—absolute removal of all col- lar restrictions, Pensions (fifty bones annually) to all dogs who served the great war. Introduction of death sentence for all small boys who tease dogs. Annual tax on all humans, captive or loose. A national walkout of all dogs, commencing with Ter- riers 22, Loyal Order Collies 64, Boston Bulls 112, followed “DON'T MAKE A SCENE, MISS. THINK WHAT IT MEANS TO ly all other unions. MY REPUTATION!" comicbooks.com