The Winslow mail., 1924-10-03
BARNEY BOOBLE AND ARIZONA

NyHE Saturday, September ~, issue
Il of the Los Angeles Examiner, con-
tains a deplorable advertisement OF
Arizona, in the alleged comic strip
entitled Barney Google and Spark
Plug" The particular funny, or silly,
picture represents Barney and his
skate contemplating trip to Yam
mai" Arizona. A friend advises him
not to make the trip saying, YAM
pai, Do you know what Yampai is
famous for? Barren m u n n s.,
scorching deserts, no trees, or lawn
mowers, buzzards as big as your batn
tubs, rattle snakes, Gila monsters,
ereasers- and that amt half of it!
Then the final picture shows the ugly
pop-eye, long distance telephon1ng to
Yampai that it will require certified
check for a billion bucks to induce
him to leave New York, probably, to
go to Arizona.
This series of decadent humor and
feeble-fingered draughtsmanship OF
course was printed on the same day
inlaI the Hearst newspapers, Of which
there are more than two dozen, with
millions of readers, in the country.
Great laughs no doubt were inspired,
and the mirth of the nation increased
to an hysterical degree.
There was time when DeBeck, the
creator of Spark Plug and his master,
made his creations play upon the
foibles and quirks of human nature,
more or less gently satirizing them,
especially the mental turn in most
people that they could be successful
hot sports. Then it was halfway
readable, and suggestive of the fresh
humor of Swinnerton, whose Little
Jimmie" series has lasted during all
the days of comic sections, or of
Payne, whose "Smatter Pop?" funnies
never were known to carry sting,
but since DeBeck has found 1t neces-
sary to hammer and lambaste a peo-
pie or a community just because he
ignorantly follows the lead of other
alleged humorists, his comics are be-
coming disgusting.
For years and years Arizona has
been in a class with banana skins, old
maids, Scotchmen and cheese, as
subject for ridicule. The mere men
ton of the name was supposed to
stimulate the risibilities of the reader,
and it didn't matter much about the
joke or point, still it was good for
laugh. The traditions of the Alkali
Ike of Crimson Gulch type or hard
boiled citizen survives even yet, two
score years after Ike and his habitat
disappeared A few publicists have
learned of the change of status OF
Arizona from a lawless mining and
cow country to one of peace and pros
perity in agricultural and industrial
life, but the uncomprehending still
avail themselves of the ease of poking
painful fun at the old order-if such
an, order ever existed
Millions of people through the east
and middle west still believe that Ari-
zona, instead of being one Of the most
respectable and self-respecting states,
is land of gun-toters, poisonous rep
tiles and stinging cactus. They fail to
analyze the news of the day and learn
therefrom that the dangerous citizen
now thrives best east of the Missouri.
Gun men, poisoners, seducers and dry
land pirates don't do we'll in the south
west. Lawlessness is unusual The
reckless and lawless character has
sought more congenial haunts.
Where people are engaged in the
serious business of developing homes
and cities, waging war against un-
generous Nature, there the spirit Of
criminal restlessness and irresponsi-
bility does not thrive.
The nter-mountain states Of the
southwest challenged the resourceful-
ness and constancy of the earliest
pioneers. The first and second gen.
erations of those who tanned the wild
ness of the land and natives Of this
territory are now carrying the work
begun by their fathers and grand
fathers-and mothers and grandmoth-
ers-to a glorious conclusion. Hard
work dispels bravadoism, and much
studying, thinking and planning takes
the place of the desire for startling
adventure and blood-thirsty thrills.
We hope some one some time will be
able to present to the world truer
picture of the real, modern Arizona.