The Wasp — 1890 — page 85: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon critiques Wells, Fargo & Company's management practices. The title promises "Careful Management in the Home Office Checkmatted on the Rail by Road Agents"—meaning the company's headquarters oversight is being undermined by highway robbers. The illustration shows a contrast: an upper circle depicts well-dressed executives and ladies in a secure office environment, while a lower circle shows armed bandits attacking a Wells Fargo stagecoach. A soldier or guard on the left appears caught between these worlds. The satire suggests that despite Wells, Fargo's pretense of careful, controlled operations in their home office, their actual field operations remain vulnerable to robbery. The comic implies management's distant oversight cannot prevent real-world criminal interference with shipments.