Life, 1924-05-08 · page 13 of 42
Life — May 8, 1924 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page mocks Congressional members who launched a "War Contest" for the best plan to start an international conflict, only to abandon the effort when facing actual diplomatic consequences. The cartoon depicts congressmen as eager warmongers. The text quotes a senator claiming he could isolate the country "into a war," suggesting naive confidence about initiating conflict. The satire's point: these politicians enthusiastically promote war in the abstract but lack the courage for actual consequences. The reference to "The Cash Customers" indicates they're motivated by profit rather than principle. The page ridicules the gap between bellicose rhetoric and political action—congressmen want war's glory without responsibility. This reflects early-20th-century anti-war sentiment and skepticism toward political leaders who talk toughly about conflict.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
the bes: mtest for hited Stat day of Livr’s the L so gil all other entries seem inn an for 1 thre ng a war with a ic in its p that it mad di th d insult to ' hievou: It pas Immigration Bill containing the care Jar mtest by t * the Having i the € raged at the start pecifically ba nal Vv nakers, rmined to start a war ¢ agrin that we are forced amateur contestants fc al conflict te’s Contest have The judges of 1 issue a special award, in the f testimonia by the two He be d legislative t that it be hung i the Capitol re sessic aurant, wh atives will see it Following is the wording of the Special Award “To the Congress of the*United States of America. in recognition of its inestimable sercices in furthering the cause of wer by passing in the face of almost unanimous opposition on the part of its literate constituents, the Immigration Bill containing the Japanese Exclusion clause. "Although specifically barred from competition in LIFES War Contest, the members of the Congress pluckily weni ahead, with no thought of personal gain and at the expense of their reputation for sane statesmanship. and formulated a plan so simple end inevitable in its potentialities for the promotion of international ill will that to deny it recognition in this Contest would be an equivocating and futile evasion of justice. “Therefore. the judges in LIFES Contest present to the members of the Congress this special, hand-illuminated award in lieu of a cash prize, with best wishes for a Happy War.” A copy of th rd I "As a Senator and an experienced drive orator, my services are at! your disposal. Luckily, I have millions of lives to give for my country.” THE SENATORL awa sent to member of ( gress. | possible ward to the Ed Lire package of seed t Senate rs nor Repre- It’s All Over but the Shooting therefore decided to i ed he designated by them in as been every or two of these distinguished gentlemen will read the doe ument, and will promptly for- NAW The Cash Customers GH not in a class with the trouble-mak Arm ‘d arbitrarily all the t sands of swer involved Mah Jong as a casus and "If the matter had been left in our expert hands we’d have isolated this country into a war as is 9 war!” Di BEED \ORCE “HY Lay service men) whe gypped ir ‘civiliz seems to he last war the replies, indicatir in the breasts of a ter reading several t the old f . would be greeted with p Somchow one of Honorable Mention ASIDE from the four prize- in this ¢ were a number of plans. su! 1 w serve special mention, They are Frank E. Evans (Lieut.-Col, U.S. Mar Port au Prince, Haiti; Miss Loujse Ayer. 1114 Bay St. Alameda Calif.; Monroe Ma : Lionel J. Livesey, John T. Ac’ Zast 180th St d Ave 1007, El Pas« Gilbert Selde St New York, and Donald Cary Williams St Cambridge, Mass comicbooks.com