The Wasp — 1895 — page 53: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page satirizes California Democratic Party infighting, specifically targeting the **Iroquois Political Club**. The text discusses Stewart Mendel's appointment as Police Commissioner and criticizes the club for losing political influence and failing to deliver patronage to members. The cartoon below depicts a registrar's office scene where political operatives appear to be manipulating voter registration—a common corruption tactic. The dialogue "Just to kill time as it were" and references to "Andy Clunie" and "Jim Budd" (likely local Democratic politicians) mock the casual way party members engaged in questionable electoral practices. The satire targets Democratic Party dysfunction: internal power struggles, unfulfilled promises to members, and election-day irregularities. The "Steam Beer Politics" header suggests working-class Democratic machine operations in San Francisco.