The Wasp — 1895 — page 136: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon depicts a "Competing Rail Road Sweepstake"—a gambling scheme presented as a large money bag. A figure labeled "MEYER" (likely a railroad magnate or financier) holds a horse labeled "PARDON" while observing the sweepstake contents. The bag lists various railroad-related contributions or bribes: "SLOSS" ($25,000), "DONAHOE" ($20,000), "MAGEE" ($15,000), "SPRECKELS" ($750,000), "MEYER" ($25,000), plus entries for "FRELAU," "VOLUNTARY SUBSCRIPTIONS" ($25,000), and others totaling significant sums. The cartoon satirizes corruption in California railroad financing, suggesting wealthy businessmen and politicians were essentially gambling with—or bribing for—railroad franchises. The sweepstake format mocks the facade of legitimacy around what was actually corrupt financial manipulation during railroad expansion.