Life, 1924-05-15 · page 28 of 46
Life — May 15, 1924 — page 28: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes Congress's passage of an anti-Japanese immigration bill during a period of U.S.-Japan tension. Life awarded Congress a mock "special hand-illuminated award" for their work promoting international conflict through the discriminatory legislation (which specifically barred Japanese competition—likely referring to economic or labor competition). The satire's point: Congress passed this inflammatory bill recklessly, without regard for diplomatic consequences or their own reputations. Life then suggests their own satirical "award" somehow shamed Congress into backing down by April 15 (retracting the insult), thus preventing war with Japan. The joke mocks both Congress's initial recklessness *and* their reversal, suggesting amateur politicians bungle both war-making and peace-making equally. Life presents itself as having accidentally derailed international conflict through mockery—a tongue-in-cheek claim about satire's actual power.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
15 opposition or Although LIFE'S recognition of its inestimable services in furthering althe cause of war by passing, in’ the Face of almost unan- aii the part of its literate constituents ap the Smmigration Bill containing the Japanese 6 ai ~) ifically barred From competition in War Contest. the members of the Congress pluckilus went akead with no thought of personal gain and at the expense of their reputation for sane statesmanship,and formulated a plan so simple and inevitable in its potentialities for the promotion of international ill-will that to der it recognition in this contest would be an equivocating and futile evasion of justice eas Cherefore, te judges in LIFES contest present to the members of the Congress this special kand-illuminated award in lieu ofa cask prize, with best wiskes fora Kappy War: lusion clause. The War uced above is the memorial which I veen forward ts of Congress THE imposing document repr 1 recognition their services © promotion of Bigger Better Wars. ¢ the President of the U s of this were sent last week to ted States, the Secretary of State id to every Senator and and the Japanese Ambas every Representative. The reception accorded this special award in Washington was unexpected, but thoroughly characteristic of our dis tinguished law-makers. With their usual perverseness, they proceeded to undo the good work which they had already accomplished, and by which they had earned the special prize in Live’s War Contest. Instead of forging ahead with their shrewd and well-calculated plans for war with Japan, they backed down and indicated that they would conciliate that Is Off nation by retracting the insult which they had offered on April 15 (the cle day of the War Contest) There is no qu m that this action was prompted solely by Lire’s special award. If we had only refrained from our demonstration of regard (as illustrated above), this country would probably volved to-day in a rousing con- flict with the entire Orient Hereaf we shali make no and Better Wars. After all, that work should be left in the hands of pro We are duly chastened. attempt to promote campaigns for I f it (until fessionals, and mere amateurs should keep out the war is actually started and the call for volunteers is issued) In war or in peace, it is always best to let nature (and Congress) take its course ———— ————r comicbooks.com