The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-05-04
PERNICIouS HABIT.

In spite Of the efforts of the tobacco
trust to defeat it, Governol LaFolle
of Wisconsin has signed the anti-cig,
arctic bin in that state and it will be-
come law on July /. After that date
it will be a misdemeanor. punishable
by heavy fines and Imprisonment in
that state to sell or even to give them
away. Why should not Oregon follow
Wisconsin's example,
The law does not provide punish
ment for cigarette smoking. but that
is unnecessary. Ii the law is rigor-
ously enforced that will make it i'm
possible for anybody in Wisconsin TO
procure cigarettes to smoke. For this
wise and necessary legislation and
action the legislature and governor Of
Wisconsin deserve the thanks Of the
nation. We shall now see II II is pos
sible TO stamp out this cigarette dis
ease and stop the greed and heartless
tobacco trusts degradation of the ma
tons youth. If it can be done in Wis,
consin is can be done in Oregon and
all other states. and 1t win be done
AS was to have been expected the
regulation canting clamor about 'fn,
terfeTenc< with personal liberty" is
being made by the cigarette slaves ana
by the constituencies creatures who
fatten on their slavery Let nobody
be deceived by this cry. OF course
the prohibition of cigarettes is an in
reference with personal liberty TO
some extent. But so is the law against
opium smoking in Astoria, which is not
enforced. So is the law prohibiting
the indiscriminate sale of cocaine. So
is the law against burglary, the law
against murder.
The contract by which an Individual
is made a member Of civilized society
is contract under which, in protec-
tion for life and property he receives
and the benefits he enjoys through
peaceful association with his fellow
dividual action which, in the judgment
of the majority, is injurious TO society
as a whole. Society has the right to
restrain the personal liberty Of any of
its members so far as personal liberty I
is a menace to society. There is no
greater menace to society today than |
the cigarette. Because of its cheap |
ness. its mildness. the insidious slow |
ness of its poisonous action, it easily |
takes possession Of young lads and be-
fore they realize it has shackled them
firmly in its fetters. Once fastened
securely, the cigarette slavery is al
most as impossible to shake off as the
slavery of cocaine or opium, and 1t is
deadly as those others are, IL 1t does
not kill so quickly
Nobody viii venture to deny that
society has the right TO make laws
protecting its members against deadly
poisons. What then does it matter
whether the poison be swift or slow?
II druggist sell cocaine he Is severe
ly punished. Why should not the man
be as severely punished who sells Gig
arettes? Cocaine causes insanity in
about two years and death in five
years at the most. Cigarettes take a !,
longer time. but they cause insanity
and death just as inevitably. What is
the difference? Many Of the weak,
puny young men of Astoria, listless
apparently and without ambition, are
slaves to tie cigarette habit. They are
unfit to perform work in any avoca'
tion, and in many cities merchants will
not employ young man who smokes
cigarettes. Dizziness. stupidity, mac.
ton and innatentiveness is the direct
result Of cigarette smoking.