Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1918-10-04
CRANKS NOT ALL IN ASYLUMS
Fanatics Would Prohibit Tobacco and
Deprive Millions of Its
Magic SOlace

! Now comes the "Anti Tobacco
League of America" an organization
composed of self-righteous individu-
ais who believe that because they
themselves do not derive any pleasure
from the use of tobacco it should be
denied to those to whom it is source
Of pleasure, destroyer of loneliness
and depression, and a habit the mod
crate indulgence of which is not de-
trimental to health.
If we may believe the stories from
the front, and there is no reason why
they should be discredited, the first
thing a wounded man asks for and is
given is cigarette, except that it is
often preceded by good "slug" of
whisky or brandy.
If tobacco is the devils child, as is
evidently the opinion of our friends
the "Antis," how comes it that the
great and glorious organizations of
the Red Cross, the Y. M. C. A. and
kindred organizations furnish, in
many instances absolutely free, un-
limited quantities of cigarettes and
tobacco in all forms?
Not being satisfied with the duties
and ever growing responsibilities of
our representatives in Washington,
the would-be world reformers would
add to their labors, as is evidenced
by the following letter which has
been sent to every senator and con-
gresham by the Anti Tobacco
League:
Mr.. Senator, Mr.. Congressman:
Are you really interested in con-
serving grain and the man-power of
the nation?
One million four hundred and fifty
thousand acres of good productive
land will this year be wasted in grow
ing tobacco unless you prevent it.
The labor power of several hundred
thousand people will be dissipated in
growing it; many thousands in it's
manufacture; and 100000 in its sale.
The land could supply every grain
need of our nation and its allies.
That labor could supply every labor
shortage in America.
Tobacco's evil record is established
by physicians and scientists beyond
intelligent question.
Tobacco's nicotine is a poison-a
narcotic poison-a habit-forming drug
I-'one of the most virulent poisonS
known to man. One-ffteenth of a
grain will kill a man. You can't
smoke or chew without absorbing
some of it. The cigar in the mouth
if placed in the stomach would cause
sudden death.
Tobacco as a contributing cause of
death is so common that it woulc
take voluminous records to relate
even an insubstantial proportion of
them
The poisonous effects of tobacco in
the brain and nervous system is OBJ
vious to all who are called to treat
the insane
Tobacco lessons mental efficiency
by over ten per cent.
1t causes deafness, blindness, can
Ger, tuberculosis, insanity, apoplexy,
dyspepsia, hardening of the arteries
and heart disease.
1t impoverishes men.
1t lowers the working power of the
human muscle by a large percentage.
1t causes large percentage of our
destructive fires. The Constantinople
fire, one of the greatest in history,
was caused by a burning cigarette
stub.
Infants in cradles have been killed
by the tobacco smoke of their fathers.
The tobacco bill of the nation is
greater than its bread bill. 1t is three
times the amount spent on our COM
mon school.
Congress has voted to prohibit
three per cent beer. Why not pro-
hibit tobacco with two to eight per
cent of nicotine, much more destruc-
tive to the human system? Fifty
times more poisonous.
No one ever used tobacco at any
time without some injury
Congress, awake! awake!
American Anti-Tobacco League.
1t is our earnest hope that the
above will be either consigned to the
waste basket or used as cigar lighter
and so assist in the conservation of
matches.