Life — July 20, 1922 — page 19: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This political cartoon depicts a small boat with passengers (appearing to be wealthy or well-dressed figures) venturing beyond American territorial waters. The "three-mile limit" refers to the boundary of U.S. jurisdiction during Prohibition—a historical period when alcohol was illegal domestically but could be legally obtained outside American waters. The cartoon satirizes wealthy Americans who circumvented Prohibition laws by traveling to international waters to drink and obtain alcohol. The passengers' apparent affluence and the boat's deliberate journey suggest the cartoon criticizes how the wealthy could easily evade laws that ordinary citizens faced strict enforcement of. This represents Life magazine's commentary on class inequality and the selective enforcement of Prohibition.