Exhibit 12




WHITMAN CORPORATION
STATEMENT OF CALCULATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
(in millions, except ratios)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

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

Earnings:
Income from continuing operations before taxes and           $    152.2    $     69.9    $    127.7     $    118.2    $     80.3
   minority interest
Fixed charges                                                      51.5          75.6          74.4           76.7          72.2
                                                             ----------    ----------    ----------     ----------    ----------
Earnings as adjusted                                         $    203.7    $    145.5    $    202.1     $    194.9    $    152.5
                                                             ==========    ==========    ==========     ==========    ==========

Fixed charges:
Interest expense                                             $     46.4    $     69.0    $     68.2     $     70.3    $     67.0
Preferred stock dividend requirement of majority
   owned subsidiary                                                 --            1.7           1.5            1.4           1.1
Portion of rents representative of interest factor                  5.1           4.9           4.7            5.0           4.1
                                                             ----------    ----------    ----------     ----------    ----------
Total fixed charges                                          $     51.5    $     75.6    $     74.4     $     76.7    $     72.2
                                                             ==========    ==========    ==========     ==========    ==========
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges*                                 4.0x          1.9x          2.7x           2.5x          2.1x
                                                             ==========    ==========    ==========     ==========    ==========
</TABLE>

*    Intercompany  interest  income from  Hussmann  and Midas was $1.6  million,
     $23.1  million,  $23.7  million,  $21.8  million and $20.6 million in 1998,
     1997,  1996,  1995 and 1994,  respectively.  If the fixed  charges had been
     reduced by this  intercompany  interest  income,  the ratio of  earnings to
     fixed  charges for 1998,  1997,  1996,  1995 and 1994 would have been 4.1x,
     2.3x, 3.5x, 3.2x and 2.6x, respectively.

     Whitman  Corporation  also recorded special charges of $49.3 million during
     1997.  Excluding these special charges, the 1997 ratio of earnings to fixed
     charges would have been 2.6x.  Additionally,  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.