The Wasp — 1895 — page 173: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon depicts two caricatured newspaper publishers in a confrontational stance, labeled "De Young" and "Examiner" on the left figure, and "Call" on the right. The caption indicates this illustrates "intense public apprehension" between San Francisco's major newspapers. The "chip on shoulder" metaphor represents a bitter rivalry between competing publishers. The small animal (appears to be a rat) and newspaper building props emphasize the stakes of this newspaper war. According to the accompanying text, this reflects recent editorial conflicts, with the *Call* under new management by Mr. Shortridge seeking to challenge established competitors. The cartoonist mocks both publishers' eagerness for confrontation while suggesting their disputes—though sensationalized—ultimately serve the papers' circulation interests rather than public good.