THRICE FAREWELL!

It is becoming clear that out of Oklahoma, as out of Africa, there comes ever something new. Having grown tired of raising broom corn, oil booms, and Klu Klux bands the bold Westerners have bitcired their belts another notch, sworn dutifully at the broiling sun and attacked that most revered of institutions the prohibition joke. Lest they continue to merit the reputation for over-hasty action, once gained by speed on the trigger and again confirmed by gubernatorial impeachments, the Oklahoma have, however, considerately buried their protest against this kind of humor in the body of a speech in defense of prohibition, delivered before the National Editorial Association.

Unfortunately, the Western critics have chosen their arguments neither wisely nor well. To urge that "wet" jokes stand in the way of creating respect for all laws and especially obedience to the Volstead Act is not in the least convincing to those people who doubt the value of law in general and prohibition statutes in particular; yet it is this class that must be persuaded to discard "wet" humor. The only needed reason for discarding the prohibition joke is obviously that it is no longer funny. While the real arguments may not have been stated it is, nevertheless, surprising that the cultivated Eastern editors who have gone on blithely printing reams of "wet" criticisms should hear the first sharp objections to that policy from the sun-baked and traditionally Indian it rested lands of Oklahoma.

Now that the spell is broken it is barely possible that the crusade will extend to other jokes that have long outlived their humor. When Pat and Mike and the optimist and the pessimists beloved of last years Seniors, pass into that profound rest which their long services have earned for them. It is conceivable that after-dinner speakers will be more popular, that humorous magazines will actually be funny; and even that class smokers may, become enjoyable. At least one fondly hopes that others will fellow the lead of the Oklahoma.