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A new scythe cuts clean
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A new scythe cuts clean
A new scythe cuts clean. Illustration shows Mayor Seth Low and Father Knickerbocker standing in the tall grass in front of New York City Hall; Mayor Low is rolling up his sleeves and holding a scythe labeled New Administration with which he is cutting the grass labeled Salaries, Dummies, Sinecure, and Padded Payroles and on which are male heads of government workers or others representing waste in government. Date 1902 January 8. A new scythe cuts clean. Illustration shows Mayor Seth Low and Father Knickerbocker standing in the tall grass in front of New York City Hall; Mayor Low is rolling up his sleeves and holding a scythe labeled New Administration with which he is cutting the grass labeled Salaries, Dummies, Sinecure, and Padded Payroles and on which are male heads of government workers or others representing waste in government. Date 1902 January 8
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A New Scythe Cuts Clean - Mayor Seth Low and Father Knickerbocker Rid New York City of Government Waste
EDITORS COMMENTS
In this illustration from the January 8, 1902 issue of Puck magazine, Mayor Seth Low of New York City is depicted standing in the tall grass in front of City Hall, rolling up his sleeves and wielding a new scythe labeled "New Administration." Father Knickerbocker, a popular character in New York City folklore, stands beside him, encouraging the mayor's efforts. The grass beneath their feet is labeled "Salaries, Dummies, Sinecure, and Padded Payrolls," and the blades of the scythe are cutting through the heads of male figures representing waste in government. Mayor Low's determination to root out corruption and inefficiency in city government was a major theme of his administration. In the aftermath of the infamous "Greasy Tammany" scandal, which had exposed widespread corruption in city politics, Low was elected on a reform platform. He promised to clean up city government and restore public trust. The image of Mayor Low wielding a scythe to cut through the heads of wasteful government officials was a powerful symbol of his commitment to reform. The cartoon was published just a few weeks after Low's inauguration and was widely circulated, helping to solidify his reputation as a reformer and a man of action. The illustration is a testament to the power of political satire to shape public opinion and to hold those in power accountable. It also reflects the high level of public interest in government corruption and reform during this period, as well as the enduring influence of folklore and mythology in American political culture.
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