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

What you’re looking at

This political cartoon satirizes election fraud and corruption in San Francisco's Democratic politics. The central image shows a grotesque figure—likely Mayor Pond—being manipulated like a puppet or camera by shadowy political operatives, with the caption attributing it to "Mrs. N. A. Hobart" of San Jose. The surrounding articles detail alleged electoral misconduct: vote-counting irregularities, rigged ballots, and suppressed indictments against perpetrators. The cartoon's metaphor equates Pond to a camera being operated by unseen hands, suggesting he's merely a tool of corrupt party bosses rather than an independent leader. The satire criticizes Democratic machine politics and the failure to prosecute those responsible for documented fraud.