Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1890-01-17
Report on Narcotics.

tendents of this department has
been confined this year to the cir
culation of q petiten to our State
4 Legislature asking for the passage
of bill prohibiting the sale of
tobacco in any form to boys under
the age of sixteen years. Though
the efforts of the Superintendents
and friends OF the cause in circulat-
ing this petition, two hundred and
eighty seven signatures were secured
in Sullivan county. At the request
Of our State Superintendent promin-
ent physicians and educators of our
county were solicited to send to the
Senate ana House of Representatives
letters stating their views of the
eject of tobacco upon youth. A
letter in reference to the matter was
slso forwarded to our member of
J Assembly, but so strong was The
opposition to this measure that the
many petitions were unheeded and
the bill was lost. We are however
glad to report the enactment of a
law prohibiting the sale ofcigarettes
to persons under sixteen years of
age. In letter to the Superintend-
ents of the narcotic departments
our State Superintendent writes
''let us make the best possible use
of the cigarette Act and not con-
slider it Ineffective because not all we
asked" Mrs. Oberholtzer has had
copies of this bill printed in clear
! type, and headed in broad letters
and recommends that they be posted
at the various places in our State,
where cigarettes are sold. When
we consider that in the United
States during the past year taxes
were paid on two billion one hun
dred and fifty one million five hun
dred and fifteen thousand three
hundred and sixty cigarettes an
average Of thirty six cigarettes OF
domestic manufacture to every man
woman and child, we cannot but
realize the Importance of directing
our efforts towards the enforcement
OF the Pennsylvania cigarette Law.
1t has occurred to me that some
thing might be accomplished by
soliciting the cooperation Of the
teachers Of our public schools
They are placed in n position to
observe the harmful effects pro-
duced by the use of tobacco and
with the opportunity which the
teaching Of the text book affords
could greatly aid Us in this move
ment. | have in my possession a
letter from one of the prominent
educators of our county from which
| quote what she has written re-
lating TO the effect of the use of
tobacco upon youth. From OBJ
servations made in the school-room,
L find that young boys addicted to
cigarette smoking are not as quick
to learn nor are their powers Of
memorizing so great as those not so
addicted. In short where pupils
were confirmed tobacco users have
observed a general air of lethargy
about them and that their faculties
did not develop so readily as those
who were free from the tobacco
habit. | have in mind one or two
instances of boys who were confirms
ed cigarette smokers, exhibiting
all the symptoms | have Just men,
toned but who by some good for
tune were persuaded to give up the
habit. The good effect was i'm.
mediately perceptible. they became
brighter, could learn faster, their
powers of perception became purer
and seemed to develop much more
rapidly and in all respects were
much more satisfactory nupils ="
1t is probably that the observa-
tions of other teachers would be
much the same and we feel assured
that by appealing to them we would
receive valuable assistance in carry
ing out the objects for which this
| department was instituted. Let me
suggest in this connection that it
might be good plan to petition the
school directors to employ as in