The Wasp — 1887 — page 428: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This political cartoon depicts a central figure being physically attacked and manipulated by several men wearing badges or official regalia, while others watch. The title "In Whose Interest Is He?" suggests the cartoon questions whether a politician or public official is serving the public good or private interests. The central figure appears to be a victim of competing factions, each pulling him in different directions—a common satirical trope representing conflicting political pressures or corruption. The men surrounding him likely represent railroad magnates, politicians, or special-interest groups prominent in 1880s San Francisco politics, a period marked by significant labor unrest and corporate power struggles. The cartoon critiques whose interests are actually being served by those in power.