The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-03-06
END0F THEPILLS"
Cigarette Dealers Packing Their
Stocks Today.
Law Prohibiting Their Sale Is
in Effect.
HAD LARGE STOCKS.
One With $4,000 on His
Shelves.
Another Had Unpacked Fresh
Supply on Friday.

The new drastic anti-cigarette law
Unexpectedly went into effect last
evening upon its publication in the
State Journal and nearly all dealers
of cigarettes and cigarette papers hur-
riedly boxed their stocks with the re-
suit that empty show cases and
shelves confronted the visitor this
morning.
The law was not unannounced for
all dealers saw its heraldry in the pa
pers at the time of it's passage, but 1t
was unexpected to all but few and
stocks of the forbidden form of the
narcotic were taken from. shelves,
cases and show windows to be boxed
up without even time for an invoices;
but near estimates show large quanti-
ties to have been on hand and that is
the foundation of any criticism the
the dealers have for the severe
measure.
1t was the supposition of the cigar
and cigarette men that they were to
be given the same consideration as
were the liquor or drug dealers in re-
gard as to the time when the liquor
law should go into effect. The liquor
law provides that 1t shall go into eff
feet after its publication in the statute
book about June L, and gives the deal
ers ample time to dispose of their
stock, but the cigarette law provides
that II snail go into erect as soon DIS
published in the official state paper.
Promptly Signed, Promptly Published.
The only hope for time then rested
in the action of the governor in sign
ing the bill. BY delaying his signature
for some weeks or months the cigar
cite men would have had opportunity
to dispose of their goods as had the
liquor men. That is the little note of
dissatisfaction sounded along the line
this morning, yet as could be learned
no representative of the business had
called on the governor to state that
side of the case.
Law a Drastic One.
The three sections ofthe law which
have proven sensation in Topeka to-
Section l. It shall be unlawful for any
person, company or corporation to sell or
give away any cigarettes or cigarette pa
pers or to have any cigarettes or ciga-
rette papers in or about any store or other
place for free distribution, or sale.
Section 2. Every minor person who shall
smoke or use cigarettes, cigars or tobacco
in any form on any public road, street,
alley, park or other lands used for public
purposes. or IN any public place OF pusI-
and upon conviction shall be punished for
$1,000 and every person who shall furnish |
cigarettes cigars or tobacco in any form
10 such minor person, or who shall per-
mt SUCH minor person to frequent any
premise owned, held managed by him, |
for the purpose. of indulging in the use
OF cigarettes, cigars or tobacco in any
and upon conviction shall be punished by |
a tine of not less than Twenty-Five nor
more than One Hundred dollars.
corporation violating any of the. provi- |
deemed guilty of a misdemeanor. and on
conviction shall be fined not less than
hundred dollars.
No Cut in Price.
Mr.. J. T. Price, proprietor of the
Smoke House, after talking of the like
lihood of the governors signature with |
others of the dealers telephoned to the |
governors secretary shortly before press |
time of the State Journal and learned !
that the law was going to be printed |
Friday. Word went like wildfre but |
no sensational riddances of good cigar |
cites at ridiculous prices were eXecu- |
ted at any of the shops. Smokers of |
the coffin nails who refused to buy
when advised to by the dealers expect |
ing to reap a gladstone harvest when |
they could prey upon the stocks of their
friends in distress. But there was no
distress and instead of mad rush to
dragged to the rear and prepared for
shipment back to kinder chimes.
Excluding the firms of Parkhurst &
Davis and the McCord- Kistler company,
wholesale dealers, the largest holders of
theforbidden smoke were c. S. Eagle and |
Geo. Burghart, who retail from their
cigar stores as well as do a jobbing bus
mess in connection with their cigar
trade.
Forty Thousand in One Stock.
Mr.. Burghart had just received a con-
Segment of cigarettes worth several
hundred dollars and his stock was up
to about 10000. These were never I'M
packed but the rest are all packed and
set up with those for return to the fac
tories. 3Oh,- 1 do not mind the law"
said Mr.: Burghart. Il believe it is a
good thing. This business of minors
Inhaling cigarette smoke is a detriment !
to health and the smell of a cigarette
Is sickening. AS to the business side
Of it, why there is not much profit in
carrying the line. 1t is so we'll controll-
ed by the trust that our margin has !;
been cut to a few per cent where bust
ness is but pastime; but we have had
to keep them for the demand was in
,reasing every day. That is where they
had US.
Now I believe the sale of cigars will
increase, and the fancy tobaccos for
pipes will take the place of cigarettes
There will be no loss on the commodity