Life, 1926-05-13 · page 31 of 52
Life — May 13, 1926 — page 31: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes **Prohibition** (the Volstead Act banning alcohol), the dominant political controversy of the era referenced throughout. "The Voice of the People" poem mocks the contradictory demands citizens place on government during Prohibition: people simultaneously demand stricter enforcement and modifications to the law, claim they want no alcohol yet complain about inability to drink, and deny the law works while accepting it does. The repetition of "Bartender, set up another round" undercuts the hypocrisy—Americans violate Prohibition while debating it. **"The Forest and the Trees"** cartoon depicts someone literally unable to see obvious reality (traffic) amid surrounding chaos, likely critiquing how Prohibition blinds people to obvious social consequences. **Pike Peters' column** is humorous business advice about establishing a North Pole garage for aircraft—absurdist commentary on overconfident American entrepreneurship and expansion. **"At the Corner Store"** makes a dry joke: the balloon transaction appears innocent but "send 'em up" suggests delivering contraband alcohol via balloon—a sly reference to creative bootlegging methods during Prohibition. The overall message: Prohibition creates widespread hypocrisy and lawbreaking across American society.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
> ETRE: The Voice of the People HE Voice of the People is soaking wet; T The Voice of the People is arid dry; You can’t get a drink on a thousand bet; To have it you've only to go and buy. The head that I'll have to-morrow—oh, my! You can’t escape an enforcement hound; Sahara eternal, we prophesy! Bartender, set up another round! Volstead has cancelled the national debt; Volstead has set the whole nation awry; The Voice of the People cries, “Stricter yet!” The Voice of the People cries, “Modify!” The U. S. A. is the home of the spy; The U. S. A. is where joys abound; “Never one drop!” is our battle cry; Bartender, set up another round. Statesmen, give heed to the Dry League's threat; “now's THE WEATHER UP THERE?” The Fourteenth Amendment doesn't apply; The working classes are all in a fret; Gj rs The working classes will vote— You lie! Pike Peters Says: Statistics show that law can't deny; EING in the garage business like I am in the best State Statistics show that salvation’s found; in the Union, bar none, I am always looking around to ‘The eitssiicn's7as aweetl ad ple? expand, because if you make good in Clearwater, Ok., Bartender, set up another round. you won't have any trouble doing the same in other dis- tricts, no matter who the competition may be. I have been L'Exvot reading about all the traffic goin’ to the North Pole and it * “ z seems to me there is a dandy chance for a live-wire up bigs ac ceed around that section who could get the confidence of the All I can say is: “Here's mud in your eye! trade and the right kind of parking privileges. Bartender, set up another round!” In the North Pole section I would put up a garage for Tip Bliss. airplanes and dirigibles and monoplanes and Zeppelins and so on, instead of for automobiles, with free comfort sta- tions and postcards at the counter going out as an attractive The Forest and the Trees side-line, with the stamps already pasted on, to get the rush “LJOW did you find the traffic when you were in New business away from the other fellow. Then I would have York?” sandwiches and other food handy at attractive bargain “Gosh, there were so many automobiles that I never saw prices so that people would carry away a pleasant impres- the traffic.” sion to tell their friends, because if you will watch, half the people remember a new place by what they had to eat, and if you don't make this pleasant impression on the crowd some other fellow will. The big money to-day is to be made by the fellow who sees which way the wind is blowing the straws and gets in ahead, and this is what I would do in this new North Pole territory. Yours for hustle and speed, Pixe Peters. (Owner of the Pawnee Garage, Clear- water, Ok. Transients accommodated.) Homer Croy. At the Corner Store R. THOMPSON: I would like to Wife: you’p BETTER STOP PLAYING . buy a dozen balloons. NOW, DEAR. YOU'RE ONLY. REPEAT- Crerk: Will you take them with ING YOURSELF, you or shall I send ‘em up? comicbooks.com