Judge — November 5, 1887 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This **Judge** magazine cartoon satirizes political corruption and hypocrisy. A politician (center, in white pants) holds a rake, surrounded by six men examining documents labeled "THE VEDDER LIQUOR TAX BILL" and papers about tax revenue and liquor traffic. The satire targets a leader who claims to be a "Democrat" while openly admitting he runs the state "for Politics, not Principles" to benefit "friends." The cartoon suggests politicians prioritize protecting their allies' financial interests (liquor tax revenues) over ethical governance. The rake-holding figure appears to be "raking in" money or political advantage. This reflects late 19th-century concerns about machine politics, where party bosses used government power for personal gain and patronage rather than public good—a major reform issue of the Gilded Age.