Los Angeles herald., 1909-06-27
TOBACCO SMOKE ON STREET
CARS MAKES WOMEN SICK

LOS ANGELES, June 24.-LEditor
Herald: An article in the June issue
of The Herald has just come to my no
tice and I am unable to resist the in
clination to add my cry to that already
raised against a great injustice.
A woman writing on the date referred
to is more lenient than 1 feel Is war
rantable, when she says: Those who
smoke would likely desist could they
understand that the habit is distaste-
full to other passengers" I cannot feel
that the average smoker is entitled TO
the benefit Of the doubt" They all
have eyes and 1--WE viii grant for the
sake of argument) a reasonable degree
of intelligence, and cannot possibly re-
main in ignorance of the disregard in
which they are held by women suffer-
ing qualms of sickness caused by the
odor of tobacco when they look dag
gers" at the men, or white and trent
bling with faintness leave the car to
recover on the sidewalk, try their fate
on the next car or walk to their des-
tination.
Why do not women sit inside? Why
should they? Must women give UP the
pleasant and restful invigorating ride
into the open country or through the
city when able to secure a seat, or WILL
ing to stand, because some man chooses
to smoke on the outside of the car,
where the fumes do not blow away
from their nostrils?
Women pay the regular fare and are
entitled to every comfort the mode Of
TRANSFORMATION affords, when it does not
Interfere with that same enjoyment by
other passengers, and surely one Of
these comforts" is to be able to keep
ones stomach right side up and the
nostrils free from the fumes of to-
baccO.
I am a bread winner and have been
for twenty seven years, but Los An
geles is the first city in which I have
lived, to ride daily, where men are per-
mitted to smoke wherever they may
elect on a street car. In two Of the
large cities of which I have personal
knowledge smoking is allowed when
passengers occupy the rear seats of the
back end Of the car, and standing be-
hind these seats, but never further for
ward. If men must selfishly indulge
this habit while in the close quarters
of a public conveyance in the CITY of
the Angels which prides itself on be-
ing up to date" may not such indul-
gence be restricted to the limitations
above mentioned?
On all street cars from 7 to a. M.
and from to $3.50 p. m are to be found
many women who from necessity are
employed during the day in the city.
Many of them are shut in where really
pure air is a luxury, and their only sal
walton from Illness or disease is the
ride in the open air morning and even
ing on the street cars. Must half a
dozen, or even one, sit inside the car
away from the air which they enjoy
as well as the men are entitled to on
the ground of fare paid, and really
need as a safeguard to health, because
one man chooses to smoke a cigar, vile
cigarette or stale pipe? Where is the
justice and the fair dealing the street
car company should show all passen-
gers alike?
There may be few men who would
throw away a smoke at the sight of a
womans whitening face, whose eyes
tell what her tongue is past uttering,
or who would infer from the manner Of
some fellow passenger that his smoking
was offensive, but they are rare, as
daily rides for years have taught me.
Almost invariably In my own twenty
five minute ride into the business CEN