MULE AS STATE ANIMAL GAINS STATE LEGION'S ENDORSEMENT

A sole dissenting voice at the American Legion state convention was hooted down by supporters of a resolution naming the mule Missouri's official animal.

The brainchild of Cape Girardeau American Legion Post 63, the state veteran's organization now will try to persuade the General Assembly to designate the mule as Missouri's official animal when it meets again in January.

"I would hope this will be an election-year issue," said Charles Woodford said. "Who would be against it. It's like being against motherhood. Legislators against the mule would have to sneak home under cover of darkness. People in their communities would run them out of town."

But past efforts to make the mule the official animal have been shot down by politics.

Woodford doesn't buy the argument that the mule's resemblance to the donkey, the Democratic Party symbol, would give Democrats an advantage.

Most people already believe the mule has official status, he said.

"What advantage has accrued to the Democratic party? None," Woodford said. "It's really something like a common law marriage. I think it's really high time the association between the mule and the state of Missouri be legitimized."

Over the weekend, members of the American Legion and its auxiliary supported a resolution backing the mule's bid for official status. As a result, American Legion members across the state will make presentations to the public and media to generate support for the idea.

"They will also be leaning on state legislators to support this," Woodford said.

The resolution was one of 31 considered at the state convention, held over the weekend in Joplin. The resolution committee, which considers the proposals and makes recommendations to the general membership, was in support.

On Sunday morning, the resolution came before some 500 delegates for approval. "Would you believe it? One member challenged the thing," Woodford said.

"He said, `What's this got to do with the American Legion?' and that the general assembly had more important things to do," Woodford said. "He was hooted down, and the resolution passed about 500 to 1.

"I guess there is always some crank around. He was the Grinch."

Cape Girardeau resident Betty E. Cato, who is the new president of the Missouri American Legion Auxiliary, said the 500 or so members of the women's organization attending the convention overwhelmingly supported the resolution.

Cato said auxiliary members are ready to do their part to drum up support for the mule.

"That mule went overseas with several of their husbands," Cato said. "He's an old, fellow veteran."