This cartoon refers to the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946. Berryman appears to imply that the Democratic leadership in Congress, Senate majority leader Alben W. Barkley (D-Ky.) and House Speaker Sam Rayburn (D-Tex.), had hopes that Congressional reform would be politically popular. However, John Q. Public's reply suggests that Berryman was skeptical of reform's political impact. As it turned out, the Republicans swept to power in November, 1946, gaining control of the House and Senate.