Judge, 1885-11-14 · page 1 of 16
Judge — November 14, 1885 — page 1: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This 1885 *Judge* cartoon satirizes vote-buying and electoral corruption. A small figure labeled "For Governor: David Hill" holds a ballot box shaped like his own head, while rough-looking men (likely representing party operatives or immigrant voters) crowd outside Boss Tweed's Restaurant. The caption contrasts two election philosophies: a "Ballot Box" asks "Well, old feller, how'd you like the election?" while a "Colored Tramp" responds that living "like a lord" was better than voting—implying voters were bribed with money or favors rather than voting on principle. The cartoon mocks machine politics and suggests elections were "carried" through corruption and bribery rather than legitimate democratic process.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ENTERED AT THE POST OFFICE AT NEW YORK AS SECOND CLASS MATTER. COPYRIGHT 1881 BY THE JUDGE PUBLISHING CO. Price NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 14, 1885. 10 Cents. TRBeardr , HOW THE ELECTIONS WERE CARRIED. Battor Box— Well, old feller, how'd you like the election?” Coronizep Trawp—‘ First rate; been living like a lord. I’m jest stuffed.” comicbooks.com