Judge — February 2, 1907 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This political cartoon depicts a bearded figure (likely a newly elected official or reformer) as a giant broom sweeping debris from the steps of the New York State Capitol building. The scattered papers labeled with terms like "Grafitti" (likely "Graft"), "Star Chamber," and other corrupt practices represent the political corruption and misconduct being swept away. The caption "A New Broom Sweeps Clean" invokes the proverb about fresh leadership bringing reform. The image satirizes optimism about institutional cleaning-up, possibly referencing New York state political reforms around 1907. The exaggerated caricature and dramatic scale emphasize either sincere hope for reform or, more likely given Judge's satirical nature, skepticism about whether one person can truly eliminate entrenched political corruption.