Judge — September 14, 1907 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This political cartoon depicts two figures in conflict over competing ideologies. The left figure, labeled "Muckraker" (wearing a cap), holds a sign advocating radical reform: "Smash the Corporations. Bust the Trusts. Smash the Capitalist. Refuse his Tainted Money." The right figure appears to be a wealthy capitalist holding what looks like a large can or container labeled with text about "Ullendale" and "good enough for me." The cartoon satirizes the contradiction between muckrakers—Progressive Era journalists and activists who exposed corporate corruption—and their reliance on the very capitalist system they condemned. The title "Leave Well Enough Alone" suggests irony about whether radical reform is truly desirable. The satire critiques the hypocrisy of accepting benefits from the system one publicly attacks.