Puck — October 16, 1878 — page 2: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "The Turning of the Scales" - Political Satire This cartoon satirizes **Mister Kelly**, a political figure whose influence is "slowly turning" and declining. The image shows Kelly being weighed on scales against common people ("the Tamanny family"), suggesting his power is being measured and found wanting. The accompanying text mocks Kelly's pretensions to superiority and his control over New York politics through corruption and patronage. The satire suggests that despite Kelly's "stolen account-books" and political manipulation, ordinary citizens are finally gaining power against him. The piece appears critical of **Tammany Hall**-style political machines—the corrupt patronage networks that dominated NYC politics. The joke is that Kelly's scales of influence are "slowly turning," meaning his political dominance is eroding as public resistance grows.