“Democratic New Years Eve Cheer”

This cartoon concerns the control of the 72nd Congress in 1931. In the 1930 congressional elections, Republicans retained a slim majority in both houses of Congress. When the new Congress convened in December, 1931, however, a number of deaths and departures left vacancies in seats held by Republicans. Results from special elections held to fill those seats shifted control of the House of Representatives to the Democrats. The Democratic donkey, cheered by his party's new power, consoles the defeated Republican elephant as the old year sets over the horizon.