The American Issue, November 8, 1912
Dublin Core
Title
The American Issue, November 8, 1912
Subject
The core message of this newspaper comic links poverty directly to alcoholism. It depicts an old dog surrounded by empty cans as a symbol of destitution. Prohibitionists framed alcohol as the source of society’s ills, arguing that eliminating it would solve these problems. The comic reinforces their belief that financial struggles would vanish if people stopped spending money on liquor.
Description
The comic shows a old mangy dog with poverty written on it back surrounded by hundreds of alcoholic bottles. There is also a sign on the side that reads "NEWS ITEM (BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS) NEW YORK OCT 28- A 'STRAW VOTE' OF NEARLY 20,000 DESTITUTE AND HOMELESS MEN ON THE STREETS OF NEW YORK CITY , JUST FINISHED BY THE CHARTITY ORGANIZATION SOCIETY SHOWS THAT 60 PERCENT ASCRIBE THEIR DESTITUTION TO INTEMPERANCE."
Creator
The American Issue (Westerville, Ohio)
Source
Library of Congress.
Publisher
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library, Urbana, IL
Date
November 8, 1912
Rights
Public Domain
Format
PDF
Language
English
Type
Newspaper front page
Identifier
Library of Congress Control Number: sn2008060406
Coverage
Prohibition
Still Image Item Type Metadata
Original Format
Newspaper front comic
Physical Dimensions
8.49 × 12.49 in
Files
Collection
Citation
The American Issue (Westerville, Ohio), “The American Issue, November 8, 1912,” Visuals of Prohibition, accessed September 28, 2026, https://www.prohibition-visuals.leadr.site/items/show/20.