Judge — June 9, 1923 — page 20: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon depicts a large figure labeled "CENSORSHIP" sitting on a seesaw/plank, holding a small puppet-like figure labeled "PEOPLE" on a string. The figure appears to be controlling or manipulating the smaller "People" character. The satire criticizes governmental or institutional censorship as a form of puppet control—suggesting that censorship restricts free speech and democratic participation by treating citizens as manipulated marionettes rather than autonomous agents. The cartoon's title "No You Don't!" appears to be a defiant response to censorship attempts. This reflects early 20th-century progressive concerns about press freedom and government overreach. Judge magazine frequently satirized such power imbalances. The specific historical context (war period, specific censorship laws) remains unclear without additional publication details, but the core message opposes censorship as anti-democratic.