The Wasp — 1890 — page 204: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon from *The Wasp* (March 22, 1890) depicts a caricatured military figure labeled "Buckley" wearing an enormous, grotesque head as a hat. The figure is labeled with what appears to be "S" markings and is followed by several smaller figures, including one identified as "Barry" and another marked "Whelan." The caption references "The Solid Nine," suggesting this concerns a political faction or voting bloc. The military dress and "Solid Nine" label indicate this likely satirizes Irish-American political machine politics in San Francisco, with "Buckley" appearing to be a political boss leading his followers. The sign reading "Solid Nine" mocks their lockstep adherence to leadership. The cartoon criticizes blind political loyalty and corruption within local Democratic or Irish-American political organizations of the era.