The Wasp — 1896 — page 771: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

The main cartoon depicts **Congressman O'Brien** standing on a barrel labeled "STEAM BEER POLITICS," shown as bloated and ridiculous. The text criticizes O'Brien for lacking energy in the Fourth District race and suggests he's become a liability to his party. The accompanying article mocks O'Brien's reliance on Irish immigrant support and imported symbols (a thorn stick from Ireland) rather than substantive politics. It suggests he's become a joke—a figure of fun rather than serious political contender. The satire targets both O'Brien personally and the broader critique that local San Francisco politics relies on ethnic patronage and nostalgia rather than actual political substance or governance. The page is otherwise filled with advertisements for hats, tailoring, and rubber goods—typical of period magazines.