Judge — March 9, 1895 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This Judge magazine cartoon titled "Political Supply Store" satirizes government corruption and waste. A man enters a storefront stacked with provisions labeled "U.S. Treasury"—including food, supplies, and implements. The overflowing shelves suggest government resources being plundered or misallocated for private gain. A shopkeeper (likely representing a corrupt official or politician) operates the establishment. The brooms and cleaning supplies visible suggest the "cleanup" that voters might hope for but won't receive. The cartoon critiques how politicians and bureaucrats raid public funds like a supply store, treating taxpayer money as personal inventory. This reflects Progressive Era (likely early 1900s) concerns about government corruption and fiscal irresponsibility—common themes in Judge's satirical commentary on American politics and institutions.