Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-02-25
THE MINNESOTA Idea.

LSiOux CITY Journal
While the Iowa legislature IL CON-
sidering the adoption of the Minne-
sofa libel law 1t might profitably de-
vote little attention to the Minne-
sofa cigaret law. The Minnesota plan
in both instances appears to be more
practical than the Iowa plan.
II the experience of Sioux City IS
any criterion, the Iowa cigaret law
is 100 per cent failuer Iowa now
prohibits sales of cigarets ard cigaret
materials to adults and minors. The
law is not enforced as to either Min
nesota permits sales to adults and pro-
hibits sales to minors. The regulations
are SO arranged as to compel dealers
to be careful to avoil sales to minors.
Careless dealers may lose their IL
censes
Whether cigaret smoking !s Injurious
to adults is a question over WHOM
there may be debate, but 1t Is ques-
ton that does not enter the present
consideration. Harmful or otherwise,
adults continue to smoke ciSarets, ana
their use is increa sing instead OF de-
creasing, despite the most rigid legis-
lation. If local prohibition Is strictly
enforced ready-made cigarets or ma
terials can be imported by mail. Where
regulations are loosely enforced, an In
all the larger cities. dealers sell to
adults and minors with equal freedom.
They may as we'll be hung for lamb
as a sheep.
Granting that adults nave right to
choose the form in which they want
to smoke tobacco. Minnesota gives
them that right, while denying minors
access to either cigarsts or the max
ms" Dealers are licensed. Fines and
Jail sentences may be imposed on
dealers or employees who sell or give
cigarets or cigaret materials to minors.
second conviction for violation OF
the law automatically forfeits the IL
cense Of the offending dealer. and there
is provision that 1t shall not be re-
newed within FIVE years.
Whatever cigarets may do to the
constitution Of the grown man, they
are positively injurious TO growing
boys. There Is no dispute as to the
harmful effect Of any form of smoking
on the physical and mental machinery
Of the youngster. The cigaret is most
dangerous because most iEsidtous IN
it's appeal to the young.
The question to be considered In
Iowa is whether more good would not
be accomplished by regulative sys-
TEN that would retard sales to minors
than is now achieved under complete
prohibition which is ignored both as
to adults and minors. No one who Is
familiar with the facts credits the
present law with any decrease IN the
number OF cigarets smoked by old or
young. Mature cigaret smokers who
evade the law in order 10 get their own
"makins' can not complain very loud
~ If the dealers violate the same law
In order to sell to minors. 1t Is well
understood that law violation breeds
law violation. II. however, cigaret
sales to adults were lega!ized, the law
might be adjusted to make sales to
minors SO precarious that dealers
would not find it profitable to take the
risk. At any rate, that has been the
experience in Minnesota and other
states in which legislation has been
restricted to prohibiting sales to mi
nors.
Iowa could lose nothing by an ex-
pertinent with the Minnesota plan. AS
has been suggested, the present law
Is a 100 per cent failure, both as to
adults and minors.