The Wasp — 1881 — page 470: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This political cartoon satirizes San Francisco municipal governance during an election season. A woman labeled "September Election" emerges from the Mayor's Office wielding a broom, sweeping out a male figure who appears to be a corrupt or incompetent city official. The man is being forcibly expelled, suggesting voters are about to "clean house" by voting out current leadership. The cartoon critiques municipal corruption or mismanagement, using the common metaphor of "cleaning out" bad officials. The domestic imagery—a woman as cleaner—was typical period satire. The "next clean out" title suggests this is one in a series of anticipated political housecleaning efforts in San Francisco's mayoral politics during this era.