The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1900-05-03
THE CIGARETTE EVIL.
| Tho Supreme Court OF the United
states Takes a Hand in Checking
tho Sale or Cigarettes

states Takes Hand in ChcckiD,
tho Sale or Cigarettes.
The recent decision OF the Unite,
States Supreme Court, affirming th
constitutionality Of an ordinance OF th
city OF Chicago, requiring licens,
for the sale of cigarettes, is of genera
interest and Importance because /
settles finally all questions as tC tn,
right Of municipality to impose sucl
q license upon the hurtful business ant
prohibit the sale OF cigarettes t,
minors in the interest OF public health
and morals.
Ever since the passage of the ordi
nance, several years ago, it, is noted
the cigarette dealers have been st
tacking it's validity and the case has
been carried through the local courts
tho State Supreme Court, and, finally
through the United States Supreme
Court, but the measure has been sus
tanned OF every step.
| The Chicago Tribune, in comment
| ing on the decision OF the United States
| Supreme Court, remarks that the or
dinance with regard to cigarettes is
" AS reasonable and necessary as the
one requiring u license for the sale OF
liquors and forbidGing it's sale to
Minors" and that the desirability OF
such restriction in the sale OF cigar
ettcs has become firmly fixed in the
public mind. " There is growing
conviction" it says, among business
men and employers that the inhaling
OF cigarette smoke is physically and
intellectually injurious and many are
inclined to discourage Or prohibit the
use OF cigarettes among their en-
plOycc5.' The license tax, it is added
is not so high as to be prohibit0ry of
sales to adults. yet it is high enough
to permit u revenue OF about 800 600 to
the city.
The Tribune urges the city authori.
ties now to enforce the ordinance
rigidly, especially as regards sales to
minors, and the business interests Of
the city, as reported by another paper,
are figuring to move IN the matter in
their own way, and on their own uc-
count. Ono railroad company and
three large mercantile firms in the
cigarette smoking by any OF their EN-
ployces. About 100 persons are
affected by tho action of these four
concerns alone, of whom nearly 500
are BOYS under Is years OF age" Fully
GOO OF these boys, it Is stated, who arc
now compelled to stop smoking, under
penalty OF losing their places, were
addicted to the cigarette habit. The
reasons which have moved the en-
poycrs to order and enforce the pro.
hibition, as stated by them, are five in
number: ID That the smell Of nico.
tine from the breath OF employees Is
annoyiNg to customers and to other
employees, who are not users. (2l
That nicotine demOralizes the EN-.
plOycc and Affects his honesty. C,
hnf nj rt 81 l.
nervous. (l) That they stunt his mon
tal growth, bcfog his memory, and pre-
vent an alert intellect (j) Tha,
physically they AFFECT the employee sc
that he cannot give the best service tt
the employer. Other business houses
in Chicago arc being asked to Join the
movement so started and it is believed
that 1t VIII speedily become general,
and will extend TO other cities.
There is no disputlng the validity o
the reasons given by the Chicago ON
pioyers for thcir ac.icm, a.n;! IL Is CT
cOuraEing to lind business men leading
the tight against the offensive and in.
furious practice on business as we'll AZ
sanitary grounds. They can max,
more impression on the evil in a wccL
than any legal authority can make il
year, so long rs cigarettes are al
the boy who smokes them hubituali,
cannot hide tho fact Of his iudulgencc
aud, knowing that, and knowing ais
that he cannot hold both his place an
MS bad habit, he will not long hesitat
rs to which ho will give up.
Tho Chicago business men, the au
thorittos Of tho Southern hallway, an
the officials Of the United State
weather service, have set an exampl
which should he followed by all ON
plOyers who regard their own interest
tho welfare OF their employees, an
the sensihilities Of the public servc
by them, and they would do we'll
tncy would 60 one stop further an
prohibit tho use of tobacco, in an
form, to minors, at least. Ncithc
Legislators nor parents can reach tn
evil in many cases. Employers Cal
They should use their pow"r accord
ingly.