Judge — December 28, 1889 — page 8: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This political cartoon depicts two figures labeled as "The Two Santas (out of the business)." One figure posts a notice to Santa Claus demanding he "fill her right up or you are another typical failure, and your name's McGinty" and sign as a "spoilsman." The cartoon appears to satirize **political patronage and corruption** during the Gilded Age. "McGinty" likely references a political figure or represents a generic corrupt politician. The "spoilsman" reference points to the spoils system—where political appointees received jobs as rewards for party loyalty rather than merit. The joke suggests that even Santa Claus cannot escape demands for political favors and corrupt dealings. The figure on the right, labeled "Public Office," represents how government positions became tools for political manipulation, not public service. The cartoon criticizes how pervasive this corruption had become in American politics.