Men’s Protective Association

Originally Aired: February 9, 1940 Lum #255, "Men's Protective Association," Abner finds himself in a predicament after the married men of Pine Ridge organize a Men's Protective Association to defend themselves against their wives' unreasonable demands. Testing the strength of the new club, Abner boldly declared to his wife Elizabeth that he is master of their house. Now he's living alone in one of his and Lum's tourist cabins, too afraid to go home and face the consequences. At the Jot 'Em Down store, Abner complains to Lum and Grandpappy Spears about the mess they've gotten him into, while Lum points out that the association is supposed to protect its members. When Squire Skimp, the organization's "Defender," arrives and delivers an impassioned speech about man's independence and freedom from marital slavery, he proposes a bold solution. The association will march to Abner's house in a torchlight parade and demand that Elizabeth recognize her husband's constitutional rights. Despite Abner's initial enthusiasm for watching the confrontation from a safe distance up a tree, Squire insists he'll be leading the parade himself.