MULE ISSUE HEADS TO HALLS OF CAPITOL

Charles Woodford and Doc Yallaly soon will take their quest to have the mule receive its just recognition in Missouri to the halls of the state capitol.

If the two Cape Girardeau American Legion members have their way, before lawmakers adjourn next May, Gov. Mel Carnahan will have a bill on his desk designating the mule as Missouri's official state animal.

The effort already has won the endorsement of the state American Legion and its Auxiliary, and other groups around the state are joining the cause. The effort has drawn national media attention.

"This is something everybody I have talked to is in favor of," said Woodford. "Various Legion posts around the state are talking to their legislators trying to get them to co-sponsor the bill and to lend their support."

Rep. Mary Kasten, R-Cape Girardeau, has agreed to introduce a bill in the Missouri House. She also is lining up several other sponsors to insure the measure has broad-based support.

Rep. Larry Thomason, D-Kennett, who has authored such notable legislation as making purple paint the state's universal symbol for no trespassing and providing a sales-tax exemption for celulite casing around turkeyfurters, is receptive to the designation.

"I think it's a good idea; I will support legislation to do that," said Thomason, the House majority whip. "We are so closely identified with the mule that it is a natural that it would be the state animal."

Thomason said the mule is much more logical to get an official designation than some of the items that already have been in the state.

The last of several attempts to make the mule Missouri's official animal came in 1983. It passed the House but died in Senate committee. Woodford believes if a barrage of publicity can be maintained, there is no way any self-respecting state lawmaker can turn his back on giving the mule its overdue recognition.

If the bill gets through the House, Sen. Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau, likely will bear the burden of getting it through the Senate.

"I have agreed to co-sponsor it and help any way I can," said Kinder.

Sen. Jerry Howard, D-Dexter, said, "I don't have any objection to it."

Rep. Marilyn Williams, D-Dudley, said most people think the mule already is the state animal. "If you ask the general public what the official animal is, they perceive it is the mule," said Williams. "I grew up believing the mule was the official animal. If a group feels it is important to pass legislation making it official, that's fine with me."

Williams said 80 House members already have signed on to a bill to designate the square dance Missouri's official dance.

Williams, whose family raises catfish and owns several fish restaurants, said the talk about official designations got her thinking.

"I might even file a bill designating the channel cat as our official fish," she joked.

Thomason recalled that some St. Louis legislators toyed with the idea of making carbon monoxide the state's official gas as a way of getting federal officials to back off on the Clear Air Act.

Woodford and Yallaly point out that the mule has a long history of service to the country and that some of the finest mules in the world are found in Missouri.

"The mule opened up the whole state of Missouri to everything, from mining, logging, farming, and even serving as pack animals for settlers," said Woodford. "The mule is just a marvelous animal."

Mules also have a long tradition of military service, aiding Army units from the Indian wars through World War II. "We never lost a war a mule was involved in," said Woodford.

Two of the country's most famous presidents, George Washington and Harry Truman, were big supporters of the mule, said Yallaly.

Both are optimistic about success next year.

I'm the mule expert and he's the politician," cracked Yallaly, who said if Woodford needs his expertise in Jefferson City he was prepared to go.

Yallaly said his father was a veterinarian and he grew up around mules. "I've been stomped, kicked, thrown, chewed and everything else by them. I'm well acquainted with a mule," said Yallaly.

During the Christmas parade last week, the Legion promoted its mule-recognition effort by riding a wagon with a team of mules owned by Pete Miller of Oak Ridge.

Woodford and Kasten sat on the wagon next to the driver, while Yallaly stayed behind the scenes. He rode on the back of the wagon, prepared to shovel up any debris the mules left along the parade route.

"I'm not an expert on mules," said Woodford, "but I am an expert on injustice, and the mule has been denied its legitimacy in the state. We would like to see this relationship between Missouri and the mule legitimized."

State designations

State tree: Dogwood.

State bird: Bluebird.

State flower: Hawthorn.

State song: "The Missouri Waltz."

State musical instrument: Fiddle.

State insect: Honey bee.

State fossil: Crinoid.

State mineral: Galena.

State rock: Mozarkite.

State tree nut: Black Walnut.