Evening journal., 1908-01-21
MAY PROHIBIT
WOMEN SMOKING
Lively Session Of New York
Aldermen Discussing
Ordinance
CHORUS GIRLS IN PROTEST

NEW YORK. Jan. 2i.-After listening to
two speeches by Little Tim" Sullivan,
the Committee on Laws and Legislation
OF the Board OF Aldermen voted unani-
mously TO report in favor OF Little Tins
ordinance against women smoking In
public at to-days meeting OF the board.
Unless the moral wave which swept the
Aldermanic chamber Is headed of before
this afternoon, 1t is counted a safe predic-
ton that the Aldermen will pass the or
dinance.
1t was a great moral victory for Lit
tie Tim" Larry Mulngan and the other
Bowery reformers.
Twelve chorus girls from Upper Broad
way. chaperoned by press agent. sup
Piled a splash Of vivid color TO the scene.
Miss ''Bobbie" Roberts, Of "The Knight
for Day company. acted as their
spokesman. Several stout ladies with
austere countenances, sat behind Little
Tim" and lent him encouragement.
Applaud "Little Tim"
Other women were scattered about the
hall whose attitude seemed to be In doubt.
Little Tim had discarded his red neck
tie for the occasion. and was soberly
garbed in black from head to foot. He
wanted everybody to understand that he
was dead in earnest: that he wasn't kid
ding"
aThis ordinance" he told the commit
tee. sis favored by % per cent. OF the
wemen of the city. Why, I've got 100
letters week since / introduced II
It does not put the penalty on the woman
who smokes. but upon the proprietor OF
the place that permits women 10 smoke
Now, two restaurant men have posted
notices that women may smoke in theil
places. I understand that IL is a custom
in Europe. / don't know; l was nevei
there But we don't want any European
customs here. They say it would be righ
10 make this apply to certain sections. but
come from a district in lower New York
where a woman is never seen smoking
and 1 say what Is good for my part OF
town is good fer Broadway. know OF NJ
better attempt to do good than this or
dinance."
There was volley OF plaudits whei
Little Tim" sat down. DIR. Charles @
Pease said he approved Of Alderman Sui
livan's efforts. but he wanted to g.
further and stop men from smoking s
any pubic place where women were pres
ent The women elapped their hands al
this
Chorus Girls Want to Smoke.
John Henry Smith. who said he had
plain name and would do some plaii
talking. said: Women are too contrary
You cant stop them from smoking b!
law. It would only make them smoke"
How'd you like to meet lady OF
Broadway smoking a clay piper aske'
Larry Mulligan.
"Just as well as I'd like TO meet mai
smoking a rotten three-cent cigar" re
Piled the ready John Henry.
Reggie" Doun said he was afraid tn
ordinance was IN violation Of the United
States Constitution. which. SO far as h
could make It out, guaranteed women tn
right to smoke.
The Miss Bobbie Roberts got the floor
In a wonderful big black hat she trippe'
to the front and gave her name to The
Alderman in a voice which every re-
porter could hear. She said she and hei
colleagues had been here from Chicago
only six weeks, but they had st. vitui
dance from dodsing automobiles. II Alder.
man Sullivan wanted to start an anti
Jumping crusade they were with him, bu
this thing OF trying to stop women from
smoking was all "tommy-rot" She sal
there was a lot Of other things the Alder
men might better do. She or her fellow
chorus ladies didn't smoke-or. dear. no
but she thought women ought to hav
that privilege.
Little Tim replied that people OF New
York who had lived here all their live
and who knew how to dodge trolley car
favored the ordinance. In Chicago he said
he thought people got plenty Of dodginl
exercises getting out Of the way Of black
jacks. bricks and sandbags.