Life — May 31, 1923 — page 17: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon depicts three armed men wearing jackets labeled "HIJACK" gathered in what appears to be a rural American setting, with corn stalks visible and a tilted structure in the background. A bird flies overhead. The caption's title suggests a direct comparison: just as banditry was a notorious problem in China, America too suffers from criminal activity—specifically highway robbery and hijacking. The cartoon appears to critique either the prevalence of armed robbery in America or perhaps to deflate American moral superiority when commenting on lawlessness abroad. The three figures likely represent common American criminals or gangsters engaged in hijacking—a pressing crime concern during Prohibition and the early 20th century.