Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1901-02-08
AGIN' CIGARETTES.
Miss Preston Tells Why the Cigarette
Bill Should Be Supported.

EDITOR TRIBUNE: There is a bill now
before the legislature prohibiting the
sale of cigarettes and cigarette paper,
senate bill 100 introduced by Senator:
Hale.
This bill is the same as the Tennessee
law which has been declared constitu-
tional by the supreme court of that state,
and recently by the supreme court Of
the United States. =.
A number of states have strong anti
cigarette laws, among ~them Iowa,
Vermont, Alabama, Indiana and Tenn
essee. Wisconsin has just passed an
anti Cigarette law, and such measures
are now being considered by the legis-
latures of Michigan, Minnesota and
Illinois. -
1t is a we'll known fact that cigarettes
are made from stumps of cigars and
guilds of tobacco raked out of spittoons
and cutters, mixed with ,plantain leaves,
fullers earth and alum. This delectable
mixture is prepared for use by adding
opium, Havana havoring, made from the
TONGA bean, which contains a deadly
poison, brandy, rum and other drugs.
1t has been proposed by some to
eliminate from the bill cigarette paper,
in order that those who desire may,
with it, make their own cigarettes. The
bill will be comparatively worthless if
this is done. the cigarette paper is
quite as deleterious in it's effect as is the
cigarette itself.
The rice paper. is expensive, and for
this reason a very clever imitation is
used as a substitute. This is made from
the filthy scrapings of rag pickers; these
are bleached with lime, and then treated
with a preparation of arsenic and lead, to
give the appearance of rice paper.
It is hardly necessary to call attention
to the pernicious effect of the cigarette
smoking habit. We have all seen the
pale faces, shaking nerves, and arrested
mental and physical development of its
victims.
Physicians tell US that the use of cigar
cites poisons the blood, irritates the mu-
cous membranes Of the mouth and throat,
affects the heart, the ear, the eye, weak
ems the bones, stunts the growth, and
creates a thirst that only a stimulating
beverage can quench. :
Educators tell us that the use of
cigarettes among the boys Injuries the
mind, produces a weak and treacherous
memory, benumbs the sensibilities, en-
feebles the will power, destroys the finer
feelings, and Injuries the morals.
Mr.. George Terrence, superintendent
of the Illinois state reformatory, said,
in a paper read before the national con-
ference of charities and corrections, that
out of 278 boys between the ages of ten
and fifteen, 90 per cent were in the habit
of using cigarettes at the time they c,m-
mites the crimes for which they we're
sent to the ~reformatory, and thatl85 per
cent had become SO addicted to their use
as to be classed at the time as >"cigaretta
fiends." d.
In view of all these alarming facts, it
is not remarkable that there is a wide
spread movement in this country led by
educators, physicians and refornaers, and
Endorsed by all thoughtful parents,
| against the deadly cigarette.
The fact that we have a law prohibit
ing the sale of cigarettes to. minors un-
der seventeen is, not sufficient. It has
been proved in every state where it has
been tried, that as long as cigarettes and
cigarette paper are sold, the boys will
get Them
From a long list of testimonies regard
ing the cigarette, I note the following
from President Mortified, Of our State
University, who stands high in educa-
tional circles: II belive, the effects of