Life, 1929-08-16 · page 20 of 36
Life — August 16, 1929 — page 20: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes President Hoover's diplomatic efforts and public relations strategy during the early Depression era. The text discusses naval disarmament negotiations, tariff policy, and Hoover's attempts to manage his public image through media (radio broadcasts, newspaper interviews). The cartoon depicts a confused man in what appears to be a government building or office, asking "Pardon me, where is the furniture department?" The joke likely mocks the Hoover administration's perceived inadequacy or disorganization during the economic crisis—suggesting the government itself is as confusing and unhelpful as a poorly-run store. The surrounding commentary criticizes Hoover for both taking credit for successes and deflecting blame for failures (tariff issues, economic problems), portraying him as politically calculating.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Life in Washington N July 24 we managed to keep Russia and China from jumping at each other's throat while we took a time-exposure of the diplomatic tableau at the White House labeled “Proclaim- ing the Kellogg Pact.” Japan ratified by Special Delivery and several South American Republics tore off the coupon and sent it by air mail in order to be in time to qualify for a sample of Kellogg’s Peace Flakes. The camera and “talkie” men made so much noise that when Hoover said “Let there be peace” into the microphone it sounded like the latest bulletins from the Man- churian front when it reached the broadcasting studio. So the ball was called back for an offside play, and world peace got on the air after lunch instead of before. And then Mr. Coolidge spoiled everything by giving an interview to the newspaper men, With character- istic modesty he took full credit for the Kellogg Pact, peace in Mexico, settle- ment of the Tacna-Arica controversy, and the Treasury surplus. With char- acteristic generosity he left to Mr. Hoover the credit for the tariff row, the discontented farmers, and the heat wave. His interview was regarded as a notice that he will choose to run in 1932. If he does, it will be 1912 all over again, and will put a Democrat in the White House. Naval disarmament is on the way. The astute and unscrupulous British agreed to stop work on two cruisers, two submarines and a submarine ten- der and to slow up all other naval con- struction, The naive and idealistic Americans agreed to hold up three beautiful blue-prints. Naturally, our public is loudly groaning at the terri- ble sacrifice we are making in this dicker, It seems that Mr. Hoover has violated the spirit, if not the letter, of “The Fifteen Cruiser Bill.” Boy, page Mr. Wickersham! However, it is shillings to periwin- kles that the British navalists are a good deal more concerned about the fact that the “Bremen” clipped nine hours from the “Mauretania’s” trans- Life atlantic record than they are over our paper cruisers, just as the sinking of the “Vestris” was far worse for British maritime prestige than was the Ad- miralty’s sabotage of the Geneva Naval Conference. Here's a prophecy. The British will build a faster, better ship than the “Bremen” and whatever lim- itation of navies there is will leave the British fleet sitting on top of the seven seas, No sooner had France ratified the Debt agreements than the French Da- vis Cup team beat the Americans. Honesty is the best policy, n’est-ce pas? +. Senator Edge is said to be our next Ambassador at Paris. Unfortunately many a keen politician makes a dull diplomat. . . . On July 25, the Pope emerged from the Vatican for the first time in fifty-nine years. Meteorologists assert that when this happens it invari- ably means an unusually hot summer in the vicinity of Senator Heflin. —].F. The moon you sce through the tes at night in the country is like the one you see in town, but in the coun- uy they seem to keep it shined up a little better. A boy from around the corner, who stopped in out of the rain, asked me if thunder was caused by a little cloud getting home late. There is no trafic problem on Easy street. “Pardon me, where is the furniture department?” comicbooks.com