Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-02-07
PUBLIC HEARING ON
ANILC|GARETTE BILL
Attendance Was Large and
Both Sides We're Represent
ed by Speakers

The house chamber was packed last
night with a crowd that came to hear
the arguments pro and con on the
Sweeney anti-cigarette bill. More than
a score of speakers discussed the meas
ure from various angles. Members of
the w. c. 7. U. and others urged its
adoption.
The gallery apparently had been fill
ed with proponents of the bill as the
repeated attacks against the cigarette
were loudly applauded. A number of
business men spoke against it. They
pointed out that similar laws in other
states have proved unenforeible.
The pending bill really would make
the state bone dry against cigarettes.
Speakers opposing it expressed their
approval of any plan that would pro-
hibit the sale of cigarettes to youths
under Il years of age with heavy PEN
alties for violation.
Superintendent Hale, Of the state
training school, said that because his
boys were not allowed to smoke, he
said 80 per cent of them were cleaner
than the average boy that roams the
streets of either Salem or Portland be-
cause they have regular habits and good
food. The greatest crime in the state
Is to allow the boys to learn to smoke,
he declared. He said the cigarette
makes thieves out Of good boys. The
cigarette is the introduction to all the
other vices, he asserted If the bill
does not pass at this session of the leg
lslature, it will be ON the ballot at the
Hnnarn1 a1aafiptn bn
Mr.. Williams, representing the TO-
bacco manufacturers, explained that
only the best of tobacco was used in
cigarettes, and declared that they were
not injurious to adults. He favored a
law prohibiting sale to minors.
Bert Greer, editor of the Ashland
Tidings, opposed the bill as an invasion
of personal rights.
Banker Opposes Bill.
President Crawford of the Lumber
men s National bank of Portland, saw
in the bill piece of drastic legislation,
to which he was opposed. He agreed 1t
was not wise for boys to use tobacco
in any form but opposed the prohibition
of the sale to adults. He opposed it
because If this form of tobacco is sue
cessfully attacked it would lead to a
prohibition of all tobacco. He believes
the state was not ready for such drastic
legislation. He favored the prohibition
of the cigarette to minors. He asked
the committee to consider the CONNER.
cial side, not to forget that dollars
are to be considered as well as the
boys. He did not want Oregon to be the
only state in the Union where cigarettes
were absolutely prohibited as it would
affect the tourist travel.
DIR. 9. j. Smith, of Portland, was in
favor of the passage of the bill He
declared that the business men, lawyers,
doctors, and professional men who smok-
ed cigarettes and succeeded did so in
spite of the cigarette. He said he was
astonished and amazed at the large num-
Der OF American people who were using
the cigarette and cited that statistics
showed that one person in every eight
was tobacco user in some form, He
asserted the pathology of the effects of
the cigarette ON the human led from
tobacco to alcohol and opium. He said
IT was only just to protect the boy now,
as 1t mattered little with the adults
as they were not so much affected.
When $780, 100000 were being spent
each year for tobacco in the United
States he thought it was time to call a
halt.
Other speakers for the passage of the
bill We're Mrs. A. G. Marsters. of the
Douglas County W. c. t: u; Mrs.
Charles Castner, of Hood River, presi-
dent of the Oregon Federation Of Wo-
men IS clubs; DR.. Harvey J. Parker.
Portland; Miss Fay Bolin, of Browns
vile; Mrs. George McMath, president
of the Oregon Congress of Mothers and
the Portland Parent Teacher associa.
ton; superintendent Todd, of the Sa
lem city schools; Mrs Ada w. Unruh.
7. U.