EXHIBIT 12
                                               WHITMAN CORPORATION
                                             STATEMENT OF CALCULATION
                                      OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
                                           (in Millions, Except Ratios)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                Nine Months                                  Fiscal Years
                                          ----------------------     --------------------------------------------------------------
                                             1999         1998          1998          1997         1996         1995         1994
                                          ---------    ---------     ---------     ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------
<S>                                       <C>          <C>           <C>           <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>

Earnings:
Income from Continuing
   Operations before Taxes                $    41.9    $   124.0     $   152.2     $    69.9    $   127.7    $   118.2    $    80.3
Fixed Charges                                  51.6         39.0          51.5          75.6         74.4         76.7         72.2
                                          ---------    ---------     ---------     ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------

Earnings as Adjusted                      $    93.5    $   163.0     $   203.7     $   145.5    $   202.1    $   194.9    $   152.5
                                          =========    =========     =========     =========    =========    =========    =========


Fixed Charges:
Interest Expense                          $    47.6    $    35.1     $    46.4     $    69.0    $    68.2    $    70.3    $    67.0
Preferred Stock Dividend Requirements
   Of Majority Owned Subsidiary                  --           --            --           1.7          1.5          1.4          1.1
Portion of Rents Representative
   of Interest Factor                           4.0          3.9           5.1           4.9          4.7          5.0          4.1
                                          ---------    ---------     ---------     ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------
   Fixed Charges                          $    51.6    $    39.0     $    51.5     $    75.6    $    74.4    $    76.7    $    72.2
                                          =========    =========     =========     =========    =========    =========    =========
Ratio of Earnings to
   Fixed Charges*                               1.8x         4.2x          4.0x          1.9x         2.7x         2.5x         2.1x
                                          =========    =========     =========     =========    =========    =========    =========

</TABLE>

*    Intercompany  interest  income from Hussmann and Midas was $1.6 million for
     the first nine months of 1998 and was $1.6 million,  $23.1  million,  $23.7
     million,  $21.8 million and $20.6 million for the fiscal years 1998,  1997,
     1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively. Such amounts are included in income from
     continuing  operations before taxes. If this  intercompany  interest income
     had reduced interest  expense,  thereby reducing fixed charges and earnings
     as  adjusted,  the ratio of  earnings  to fixed  charges for the first nine
     months of 1998 and for the fiscal  years 1998,  1997,  1996,  1995 and 1994
     would have been 4.3x, 4.1x, 2.3x, 3.5x, 3.2x and 2.6x, respectively.

     Whitman  Corporation  recorded  special charges of $49.3 million during the
     third and fourth  quarters of 1997.  Excluding these special  charges,  the
     ratio of earnings to fixed charges for fiscal 1997 would have been 2.6x. If
     the fixed  charges for 1997 were  adjusted  for the  intercompany  interest
     income noted above,  the ratio of earnings to fixed charges would have been
     3.3x.

     Whitman Corporation  recorded special charges of $84.2 million and a pretax
     gain  on the  sale of  operations  in  Marion,  Virginia,  Princeton,  West
     Virginia and the St.  Petersburg area of Russia of $11.4 million during the
     first nine months of 1999.  Excluding these non-recurring  items, the ratio
     of earnings  to fixed  charges for the first nine months of 1999 would have
     been 3.2x.