Judge — September 19, 1885 — page 8: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This political cartoon from *Judge* magazine satirizes Cleveland's administration's approach to civil service reform. The image shows a figure labeled "Civil Service Reform" crouching uncomfortably in a dark closet or confined space, while well-dressed officials stand outside near a Cleveland-branded fireplace. The title "Queer Reform—The Administration Getting the Best of an O[utcome]" suggests the cartoon mocks the administration's hollow commitment to reform—they publicly champion civil service reform while keeping it hidden away or marginalized in practice. The cramped, dark positioning of the "Reform" figure implies the administration pays only lip service to the cause while conducting business as usual. This appears to be critical commentary on President Grover Cleveland's actual reform efforts versus his rhetoric.