Judge — December 4, 1897 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This Judge magazine cartoon from February 1, 1898, satirizes **Tammany Hall**, New York's corrupt Democratic political machine, depicted as tigers overrunning a city building labeled "OFFICE" and "DEPT OF PUBLIC WORKS." The proliferating tigers represent Tammany's patronage system—the practice of filling government positions with party loyalists rather than qualified officials. The chaotic scene of animals commandeering city departments illustrates how the organization prioritized political rewards over competent governance. The large tiger on the left likely represents Tammany's leadership. This reflects Progressive Era anxieties about urban machine politics and institutional corruption. The cartoon argues that Tammany's control of NYC government was characterized by incompetence and self-serving appointment practices rather than merit-based administration.