Life, 1921-11-17 · page 17 of 34
Life — November 17, 1921 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The photograph shows a **Disarmament Conference** scene with two figures—one appears to be a dignitary or politician at a door marked "DISARMAMENT CONFERENCE," greeting what looks like an Irish or working-class visitor. The caption "—And, and, well—God bless ye, Mister President!" suggests ironic humor about the contrast between grand diplomatic ambitions and humble, common people's perspectives. The surrounding text discusses serious post-WWI issues: overpopulation (citing editor Mr. Cox), industrial production as a cause of modern war, and Irish politics (mentioning De Valera). It also criticizes Tom Watson's appointment to the Senate, noting his unsubstantiated claims about American soldiers in France require proof. The satire appears to mock the earnestness of peace conferences while highlighting real-world problems—industrialism, resource competition, and political figures making inflammatory claims—that such conferences cannot solve. The cartoon suggests naive faith in diplomatic solutions.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
of the Providence which has so wonder- fully favored us. Opportunity for very great service awaits us, if we shall prove equal to it, Let our prayers be raised for direction in the right paths.” at is the right idea and more of the spirit Colonel Harvey showed when he said that the conference was an or- deal of faith. We have a great place in the world—a place not of our own making but to which we have come by operation of forces far beyond our own control. That place brings a great obli- gation. What we can do we must do, and happily we have a President whose full intention and desire appears to be to help us do it. Mi: COX, the editor of the Edin- burgh Review, has come over confer with our wise men on some particulars of the state cf the world. He spoke to the reporters when he landed and said that there were too many people now on the earth; that the excess of population was making trouble, and that he was going some- where to discuss birth control and the possibility of reducing the number of people by means of it. What is the right opinion on birth control we have not yet been able to discover, but it is doubtful if Mr. Cox’s efforts in that direction will do much gool—no immediate good certainly. There have long been too many people in some parts of the earth, especially in China and perhaps also in India, and lately probably there were too many in Germany, but in our generation the em- harrassment of that redundancy in folks is aggravated by a tremendous factor in modern life, to wit: ma- chinery, which has enormously in- creased the power and productiveness of men. The great industrial nations produce far more articles of luxury‘or convenience than they can consume and they are obliged to find buyers for them in order to support the increased popu- lation which that production has in- duced. That leads to an intense compe- tition for markets and raw materials, which is the main cause of modern war. Check industrialism, which is the pro- duction of commodities by machinery, and population will fall off of its own accord. That is happening now in Russia. The population is diminishing with a rapidity that should satisfy any teformer. Industrialism—machinery—is really the world’s great problem—the greatest problem probably that is up to the doc- tors in conference in Washington. How can an automatic cut-off be adjusted to production—to machinery—so that ma- chines may not destroy the world that they have done so much to make com- fortable? The other way would be to increase consumption, and to that end improved distribution, and incidentally high wages and some abatement ‘of middle men, would be useful. RELAND has need of an Aesop to talk fables to her people, especially that one about the dog with a bone who saw his reflection in the river. At least a part of Ireland needs a 15 fabulist. How large a part one can- not tell. It is possible that De Valera will lose his popular backing by trying for too much and that the solution will come under some one with a mind bet- ter adapted to the situation as it is, It is a fine thing for all concerned to have Tom Watson sent to the Sen- ate. The Senate wild men. Tom Watson is a very loud and in- temperate talker, used to making all sorts of violent statements without be- ing effectively called to account. not do that in the Senate. His stories of unauthorized hanging of American soldiers in France will have to be proven or retracted. E. S. Martin. is an ideal cage for He can- “—And, and, well—God bless ye, Mister President!” comicbooks.com