The Wasp — 1892 — page 362: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon criticizes corruption in San Francisco's Boss Levee political machine. The central figure labeled "Boss Kelly" (likely referring to a corrupt political boss) is shown carrying bags labeled "Election Trick," "Commission," "Bribery," "False Registration," and "Ballot Stuffing"—all forms of electoral fraud and corruption. Above him stands "Boss Crimmins" on a pedestal, while a sign points to "Boss Levee" as the "Shortest Road to City Hall," suggesting these corrupt figures control access to municipal power. The cartoon satirizes how electoral fraud, bribery, and institutional corruption serve as the fastest path to political authority in San Francisco. The multiple labeled vices emphasize the systematic nature of the corruption being exposed by *The Wasp's* satirical journalism.