Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1907-06-08
is NOW IN FORCE.
Drastic Cigarette and smoking Law
Passed by the Legislature.


Passed by the Legislature.
The law provides that whoever
manufactures, whoever sells, whoever
gives away, and even whoever uses
any cigarette containing any substance
foreign to tobacco shall be punished
by a fine not exceeding 800 or by
imprisonment in county jail for not
more than thirty days.
Whether this will effect any import
ant change in the character of the
cigarettes commonly sold is questioned
The earnest opponents of the ''smoke"
declared so harmful in America and
considered so harmless in Europe,
have often asserted that many brands
of cigarettes contain opium, cocaine,
or other so. called "dope." Manufact-
urers of cigarettes have replied that
they didn't sell "doctored" cigarettes
for the very good reason that the
necessary drugs were too expensive;
even assuming that no other reasons
were to be considered.
The law also prohibits the smoking
or "using" of cigarettes good or
bad-and also cigars or tobacco
in any form"-by any boy or girl under
IS years of age. That is, such person
cannot use tobacco ''on any public
highway, street, alley, park or other
lands used for public purposes or in
any public place of business
The same prohibition is extended
to boys and girls between II and p
years of age, provided he or she is a
pupil in "school," college, or uni
versity."
The minor caught smoking cigarettes
or cigars or tobacco in public, unless
he is Is years old and not attending
school, shall be arrested by any officer
of the law who beholds the offense.
The arrest must also be made by any
officer of the law on complaint of one
citizen. The offender, if proved to be
such, may be fined as much as $40 Or
may be imprisoned in the county Jail
as long as five days. But if he gives
information to the person that sold,
gave or in any way furnished the to-
bacco used, the sentence may be sus-
pended, in the courts discretion.
The person who ::sells," gives to Or
in any way furnishes the cigarettes,
cigars or tobacco to a boy or girl under
IS or to student under 21, may be
fined $50 or imprisoned thirty days.
1t Is also the law that whoever gives
to the minors specified the ''priviledge
of gathering upon, or frequenting any
property or lands held by him for the
purpose of INDUCING in the use of
garettes, cigars tobacco" may be
fined $50 or imprisoned thirty days;
except that the law shall not interfere
with the rights of parents or lawful
guardians in the rearing of their minor
heirs or wards, in the bounds of the
parents private premises. This
provision apparently directed against
semi private cosy hooks in saloons,
wine rooms, pool rooms or other
resorts.
If strictly enforced the new statute
should prevent all smoking or chewing
of tobacco by Minnesota children I'M
der IS years of age and by Minnesota
students under 81. The loveliest
maiden, however filed with art Or
temperament is not exempt.
The only safe place for children or
students to smoke will be in private
houses, in apartments not maintained
as harber or refuge for youthful
smokers. But everybody that provides
in ANY way the cigarettes, cigars Or
tobacco so smoked in legal seclusion
will themselves be guilty of violating
the law.-St.Paul Dispach.