Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1914-07-28

MANY BLIND TIGERS
Reports Also Show that Cost Of Liv-
Ing Has Increased Under PrOhibi-
ton in Other States.

Richmond, July 2S.-That many
members of the Cigarmakers' Inter-
national Union of America lsve been
driven out Of business by prohibition
is one Of the statements contained III
circular letter signed by G. W. Per-
kins, international president Of the
Cigarnla!lers' Union.
His letter is peculiarly interesting
at this time, in view Of hostility to
tobacco entertained by workers for
Statewide prohibition.
At the Baltimore convention OF
cigalmakers President Perkins was
directed to find out through the va
rious locals in the United States ami
Canada the effect of prohibition on
the cigar industry.
Reports were received from l3G
locals to the effect that prohibition
had been tried in their territories;
that 5,69l cigarmakerS were en-
ployed before prohibition and that
during prohibition 1,247 members Of
the organization lost employment.
Further reports showed that ll3
blind tigers were being operated in
defiance Of the law. Ninety-fve un-
ions reported that drunkenness had
not decreased under prohibition Eigh-
teen unions reported that drunken
ness had increased. SiXty-nine un-
ions repol ted that the cost of living
had increased under prohibition.
Eighty unions reported that during
prohibition the use Of drugs i'll
creased.
The States in which cigarmakcrs
were driven out of business by pro-
hibtion are, according to the reports
by President Perkins, Georgia, Kan
Sas and Tennessee.
Georgia is now in the throeS of a
fight against cigarettes. An anti
cigarette bill, similar to the one re-
Gently introduced in the Louisiana
Assembly, has been introduced in its
Legislature. The bill is said to have
the support of those who are affi
lated with the State wide prohIbl-
ton forces.
Cigarettes have already been made
contraband articles in Arkansas,
Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, and
Wisconsin. Efforts are now being
made TO add Georgia to the list. Viz
ginia will, it is believed, come next
if Statewide prohibition should by
any possibility become the policy OF
| the State.
The Southern General Methodist
| Conference and the General Assem-
bly of the Southern Presbyterian
! Church have put themselves on rec
ord against the use Of tobacco in any
form by ministers and candidates for
the ministry. The General Assembly
! of the Southern Presbyterian Church
; extended its condemnation Of the use
Of tobacco to church officials. 1t is
reasonable tC suppose that eventually
tobacco will be forbidden con muni-
! carts.
These resolutions and events occur
ring in Virginia led the Richmond
Tobacco Trade to issue warning
recently to tobacco growers in Vir-
| ginia to the effect that "the forces
leading the fight for the adoption of
Statewide prohibition" here have be-
gun a fight against tobacco.
Tobacco growers in the rnite.
States raise over 90O,0O0000 lbs. 81
tobacco annually. Something like
$1,000, 100000 cigarettes are made.
Some of these, however. are made Ct
imrorted tobacco. The nunlher OF
cigarettes made in the United State7
Of domestic tobacco and placed on
the American markets is estimated .
10000 100000 a year.