Life — September 8, 1921 — page 5: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Kelly-Springfield Tire Prize Contest Announcement This is primarily an **advertisement** for a Kelly-Springfield Tire company contest, not political satire. The cartoon depicts a humorous scene where multiple people are gathered around automobiles, with the winning caption by Miss Claire Newman reading: "It's great to have friends for an emergency like this—It's better to have Kelly-Springfields—then you never have an emergency." The joke plays on tires as reliable safety equipment: sturdy Kelly-Springfield tires prevent emergencies, making them more valuable than even good friends. The illustration shows various people and vehicles to visualize this competitive advantage, making the tire brand appear indispensable for safe motoring. The text explains the contest mechanics: over 120,000 entries were submitted, judged across fifteen finalists, with Newman's dialogue selected as best.