Honolulu star-bulletin., 1917-12-29
UNITED STATES SCHOOLS PRO-
TEST AGAINST CIGARETTES.

TEST AGAINST CIGARETTES.
] Mr.. C. H. De Montemar, Sec.
Army-Navy Field Comfort Committee
Hotel McAlpin, New York City.
Dear Sir-I have your letter asking
me 70 send you the names Of our prin'
cipaIs of schools and to get their Co
operation in having their pupils raise
money TO be forwarded to you to pro-
vide comfort boxes" for soldiers.
| sailors, and Red Cross nurses.
Such comfort boxes are described
as containing the following:
20 Chesterfield cigarettes.
20 Piedmont cigarettes.
W. D. c. French briar pipe.
Bag Of Dukes Mixture
Gilbert's Royal Pipe cleaners.
Package OF cigarette papers.
Tube Of Lazell dental cream.
Quarter pound Mailfard's chocolate.
Package Of chewing gum.
boxes Of matches.
High grade tooth brush.
Repetti lime tabs.
High-grade pencil.
Writing paper, envelopes.
Now, respectfully but earnestly
protest against such a call. For years
the teachers Of our country have ad-
vised their boys against the use OF
tobacco Thousands Of these boys are
now going to the front as men with
out the tobacco habit, and now you
invite US to ask IL and 12-year-old
boys and girls to raise money to buy
what? Chesterfield cigarettes and
Dukes Mixture for the soldiers, sail
ors, and every Red Cross nurse" for
evidently you do not discriminate
against the women and you propose
no alternative gift.
And only last week we urged all our
pupils to help In the conservation cam.
paign, to save-for what? That we
might send Chesterfield cigarettes and
Dukes Mixture to those at the front ?
You say "the generosity Of Ameri-
can manufacturers" is helping to make
this plan possible. ! suggest that the |
manufacturers Of the Chesterfields, of
Dukes Mixture, ETC., could afford to !
pay the whole bill for their goods and |
charge 1t up to advertising, and be.
lieVe that they know It Why call
upon the children?
Now, we make no protest against |
the man that is accustomed to having
his tobacco, continuing to have 1t.
But every such a one can presumably
get 1t and 1t Is not necessary to place
1t as Eift before all the men and all
the women. And should the govern
ment find that the tobacco users al
ready In the army have the steadier
nerve and make the best gunners, then
presently the government win doubt
less provide the whole supply.
Gentlemen, your letter is an affront1
10 the teachers Of America and to the
spirit of patriotism whose name you
invoke. You are Fastening the day
when neither you nor any one else
will Send out plea for money in the
name Of patriotism without the off.
,ial sanction Of the country, you say
7ou serve. II
Very respectfully, +
,Signed) EDWIN L. RICKERT, F
Supt. of Schools.
Neutrality Morally Impossible.
Teachers In Hawaii's schools win
,e interested In a statement made |
" Fred B. Smith, during his recent
tsit in Honolulu, and published in |
The Friend:
Our issues have fallen upon an hour
then war, the worst war ever known
as been thrust upon US by q ruth {
sss, heartless. bloodthirsty political
ystem. Al system which stops at no
egree of viciousness to accomplish
S ends. Solemn compacts duly i
igned and acknowledged are torn up q
nd thrown aside as scraps of paper" 9
'romises made In sacred vows are C
gnored as though never spoken. A G
lillion and over poor helpless non. +
anticipating Armenian women and 8