The Wasp — August 23, 1879 — page 12: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Human Trash and their Desserts" This cartoon satirizes San Francisco's corrupt police and political system. The illustration depicts a supervisor—one of the city officials mentioned in the accompanying text—portrayed as morally decrepit, literally embodied as "trash." The text discusses how supervisors and police have become corrupt, accepting bribes (reduced from $5 to smaller amounts) and overlooking crimes. Specific officials named include George Shite, Judge Louderback, and others accused of bribery, battery, and larceny. The article details how these authorities manipulate the legal system—a "Cinderella lottery" where wealthy individuals escape punishment while poor defendants face harsher treatment. The cartoon's crude depiction reflects The Wasp's scathing critique of San Francisco's governmental corruption during this period.