The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-01-27
BAKER AND CIGARETTES.
The Receives a Letter
Upon HIS Efforts for Humanity.

Some scurrilous Democratic sheet has re-
Gently charged that ex-senator o. a. Baker
was lobbying in behalf OF the American To-
bacco Company in his efforts 10 have a law
passed preventing the sale of cigarettes and
tobacco 10 minors instead of a measure pro-
hibiting the sale or manufacture of cigar
cites. Everybody who knows Mr.. Baker
understands that he is staying here during
this session purely for the health of the
coming generations. which be believes VIII
be ruined If cigarettes are sold 10 minors.
There is. therefore. nothing incongruous or
paradoxical in the fact that he last evening
received the following letter patting him on
the back from the people who started the
anti-cigarette agitation, 'The Society for
the Suppression of the Use OF Tobacco AND
Narcotics Among the Youth of the United
States This organization with the long
name has headquarters in New York. and a
letterhead containing the whole name. Its
letter is signed by its secretary, John o.
Miller, and reads as follows:
W learn from our representative in your
State that you appeared before the commit
tee of the Legislature advocating the
adoption of a measure that would prevent
the use of the cigarette among the minors
of that State.
..As we are very much interested in this
matter. L beg to inclose you a copy OF reso,
buttons offered by BlSnOp ilOphLiS' "nN
unanimously adopted by our BOARD Oh u
rectorS.
1.-THE efforts of this society in the past
have been towards the passage OF prohip-
itory. or even a high license. hoping tnerepy
10, prevent the sale of cigarettes TO the
vouth of America; not in a single instance
has such legislation had the oeslre9 S5oo''
license measure; Iowa. at It's last session'
passed a law which prohibited the manu-
facture and sale within the state; III ooln
cases the United States courts uecldleu
both laws unconstitutional, ana to-uds III
both of these States cigarettes are SOTO a.
before We would like TO have you use the
influence of this society for the passage 4,
vour State of a stringent minor
will prevent the sale or TINS oeteslaoIS
article TO minors under eighteen years Vi
age. making the penalty lot NloIa1S n -
same so stringent that no one wouio oale
sell to a minor. zuH s,ra
aJf this can be done we are quite SUR
that II will have the desired erect anu
therehy lessen the evil which is to-oay I'M
dermining the health of the youth OF Anlet-
lea. We have not acted haSlhy IL nociaties
.er h,,t have consulted with other socletles
uhiob like ourselves. have only one am,
md that TO protect the health OF coming
I've should like 10 hear from You as 70
| tho result of your labors upon tnIs new uo
parturs for which sar t fren IIS'T that our iabors
49, q tho cause of prohibition as to the manu-
fact,Ire and sale of cigarettes mas peeu "a
fror satisfactory. but we nope rar
.trinoant minor law enacted In tne L. LII 20
ctates with penalties sufflclently hlsn eli
punish anyone who may he So furnished
= cigarette to a minor. Will be = PoIIowine
- will nrevent others from loiiSmS
thdu - ann,e Bishop Hopkins goes oou'n
.t;S week TO extend our good "oth