Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-04-22
WHITE MULE HAS
KICK IN MO RE
WAYS Than ONE

SanlZeu comic publication published
monthly by the members of the stu
dent body of Colby College seems to
be the storm center of current
opinion. according to developments
which have come to light within the
last few days at the Waterville COL
lege. The controversy is over the
publication OF alleged jokes which
some state are immoral. The opin-
ion on the matter is divided and the
battle has just come to light.
According to some critics of the
publication, it is thoroughly immoral
in jokes. cuts and other depart
ments. In recent letter received
by Ralph D. McLeary, "a of Phil
lips. editor-in- chief of the magazine,
a Phi Beta Kappa student and one
of the most popular members of the
senior class; DR.. Herbert c. Libby
says: eg E~
Dear McLeary: am just in re-
.ceipt of letter from II. I. Haskell,
teacher in the Penn Charter School,
Philadelphia, in which appears the
following: A Colby Student publica-
ton came here to Assistant Head
master Smith. faculty advisor of the
Penn Charter Magazine. and he de-
stroyed it before it got before the
student body on the grounds that it
was indecent. 1t portrayed suggestive
figures and illusions degrading to
the feminine sex in his judgment.
The name of the publication is,
think, the white Mule"
This is a serious matter in the
minds and hearts of all young and
old Colby sons and daughters
think l do not need to add that
Mr.. Haskell echos my sentiments
exactly. Your last two publications
contain less objectional matter chan
did the first issue. but :he cartoons
are assinine in character and FAR
from elevating. Wit and humor need
not be debaSing, and the excuse that
the Mule is not different from SINH
liar publications is a weak one. Col
by is Christian college, and moth
ing should so out from her student
body that cheapens race or sex.
Signed HERBERT C. LIBBY
In the defense of the college pub
LEGATION, the editorial board has re-
ceived' a letter from Randall J. Con-
don, one of the prominent and active
Alumni of the college, who is at the
present time superintendent of the
public schools in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Ahl SOIlICll NUN why
with the class of 1886 and has al
ways taken Il deep interest in his
Alma Mater and has dono much for
Colby. In his letter to McLeaIy, Mr..
Condor says:
MY dear Mr.. McLeary:
Il am acting upon the first section
of your editorials in which you ask
for constructive suggestions to i'm
prove the White Mule. The Mule
is all right, high bred, with becom-
ing kick The publication is a cred
it to Colby and to all the young men
who are responsible for its produc-
ton. But the suggestion l have to
offer is this, you are altogether too
modest in not printing anywhere on
the title page Colby College, One
has to hunt around through the
publication, and then discover only
tuition which is represented by this
meritious and ambitious college
production.
"Modesty is of course becoming,
and you may have a good reason for
not allowing Colby College to APP
pear on the title page, but / am
thinking that n good many people
who receive the White Mule might
wonder where it comes from and
what it is all about.
IF this suggestion is not of any
value you will, of course. discard it
if it is, use it for what it is worth.
sincerely yours,
(Signed) RANDALL J. CONDOR,
Colby 49,"
In the defense of the paper of
which he is the editor in chief,
Ralph d. McLeary says: 1.-The policy
of the White Mule has been from
the beginning the publication of
humor. This policy has been to
the best of our ability rigidly con-
formed to-
John A. Nelson, '26. of Augusta.
son of Hon. John E. Nelson, who is
the art editor of the paper. states:
concerning the suppression of the
White Mule on account of the sup
posed immortality of it's contents, /
wish to state that have had charge
OF the Art department since the start
OF the paper and that nothing but
the most clean and wholesome Jokes
have appeared through my depart
ment"
The editorial staff of the White
Mule have said: I'VE have published
q college comic that is clean and
wholesome. Each department is
headed by intelligent students pick
ed because of their ability in certain
channels. These men. we can hon.
cstly say, have worked hard and
long TO make the paper possible.
Also that the policy of clean moral
humor has been strictly adhered to
by them"
Students of the college also point
to the fact that all material for the
White Mule is sent through the
hands of one of the members of the
college faculty. who has the last say
as to whether or not the articles
may be published. this professor act
ing as a censor of all material.