The Wasp — 1896 — page 866: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is The Wasp's masthead and opening editorial page from October 31, 1896. The page identifies itself as "the oldest cartoon paper in colors in the United States, established 1876." The visible editorials address two political scandals: 1. **Second Lieutenant Tozer's resignation**: The military accepted his resignation rather than court-martial him, which the magazine criticizes as allowing rule-breaking without consequences. 2. **Railroad election interference**: Carroll Cook and the American Railway Union allegedly used secret meetings and questionable tactics regarding railway labor disputes, with implications they influenced political candidates through coercion rather than legitimate advocacy. The Wasp positions itself as a watchdog against corruption, arguing that such scandals undermine democratic processes and public trust.