The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1952-06-23
HAL
BOYLE
SAYS
By HAL BOYLE

:
SANTA FEE, N. NJ. P-Elmer
New Mexico's most famous horned
toad, is caught in a tranScontinen'
tai tug-of-war.
He is being pulled northeastward
by a group of Massachusetts
school children who earnestly
want him as a pet. He is being
held firmly in place in his native
Southwest by two New Mexico
state statutes regarding horned
/ tOads.
Under these laws Elmer can't be
exported. He Is restricted from the
broadening influence of travel by
kind of reverse tariff.
The whole question has the state
government mildly concerned, as
no official in an election year
wants to be caught falling TO en-.
force even a statute designed only
to keep a voteless horned toad on
its home sands.
The issue arose when third
grade pupils of the Davis School
in West Newton, Mass, wrote and
asked for a horned toad
What do you feed a horned
toad?" they asked. 1--WE will take
very good care of it. We will pay
the postage if you sent it,"
The inquiry passed through due
channels of government to the
Bureau of Business Research at
the University of New Mexico. The
bureau parted the query by writ
ing back and telling the third grad
ers that horned toads were out OF
season, that is the weather wasn't
warm enough for the harmless lit
tie lizards to crawl from their des-
ert hideaways.
The determined Massachusetts
kids Immediately sent a letter
saying:
I'VE would be happy to accept
the horned toad. Our school closes
June 20 but our teacher will take
care of the toad this summer.
That rather put the Bureau of
Business Research ON its pride.
1t located a toad named Elmer.
a gentle, thoughtful faced toad
stepped in New Mexican traditions
and rather resembling an I'M
combed Ralph Waldo Emerson.
The bureau was all ready to fly
him East - an airline had alerted
a beauteous hostess to make the
little beasts trip enioyable-when
an over-eager bureaucrat discov-
cred the whole project was illegal.
AS a matter of fact, il was an
official of the State Game and Fish
Department, which usually worries
about elk, bear, deer. eagles
grouse, and trout - but not Elmer
or his relatives.
There are probably more horned
toads than voting citizens. and al
ways have been. Nobody fretted
much about them until some novel
~ manufs cturers started encasing
baby horned toads in plastic and
selling them TO tourists as sou.
ycnlrS.
An outraged Legislature in l94l
forthwith passed law prohibiting
the killing selling or out-of.state
shipping Of the gentle toads. II
passed a second Law providing as
! penalty a $40 10 500 fine or 10.
to.60-day jail sentence.
These two laws rather put Gov.
/ I'd Mechem, who would like TO
send Elmer as a good will envoy
to New England. in a difficult po-
sltlon He has considered eleyating
Elmer from the status Of horned
toad to the rank of ambassador
/ don think | can legally do
that he said. But perhaps the
toad could be sent there on a
round trip tour III have 70 con.
suit the attorney general on that
point
The feeling Is rather general
herea5oI's however. that Elmer
ought 70 get his chance 70 see
NcN England and The New Eng
land kids ought 70 get a chance
70 sel acquainted with an honest
70 goodness NeW Mexican
There Is a movement under Nay
70 escort Elmer 10 the Texas line
&C. hsm 70 cross IL voluntarily
then ~ ham On East