New-York tribune., 1919-03-29
Are Preparing to Meet Issue
With Campaign of Their
Own as Soon as They
See Trouble Looming
''Drys'' Are Displeased
Anderson Thinks Liquor In
terests Are Using Smoke
Fight for Their Own Ends

The citadel of the cigarette will be
thoroughly fortified against attack by
the Anti-Cigarette League of America,
1t was announced yesterday. Declara-
tlon of war from match to butt by the
Anti-Cigarette League failed here to
enlist allies among the forces favorine
prohibition. Dry leaders indicated
that they considered the movement i'll
timed, as it tended to cloud the issue
OF enforcement of the prohibition
amendment.
The Independent Retail Tobacconists
Association decided late Thursday
night not to await attack, but to carry
the tight into the cnemys territory
Henry II. Hunter, attorney for the as
socIatlon, announced last night that a
pamphlet already had been prepared
and approved giving the history of
tobacco and outlining its use and com
tort to the human race. The capital
invested and the acreage titled also
are dwelt upon. This treatise will be
distributed to the members of Con-
tobacco dealers throughout the country
Not Badly Scared
Charles Dushkind, of the Tobacco
Merchants Association of the United
States, said the plans Of the tobacco
trade as a whole had not been fully
decided upon.
"The activities of the Anti-Cigarctte
League have caused but little uneasi-
ness in the past" he said. eve are
watching closely to see whether they
have been strengthened. We have not
decided whether we will forestall their
campaign by publicity activities of our
own, whether we will await further de-
velopments or whether the impetus of
the movement is SO slight We can afford
to ignore it. However. we will not be
taken unawares."
A similar attitude was outlined by
the American Tobacco Company, one
Of the largest Of the manufacturers.
trade, it was said, had not been COM
pleted.
William H. Anderson, state super
intendent of the Anti-Saloon League,
in a statement, said:
I'VE consider that it is unfortunate
that a few nti-tobacco enthusiasts
should have played into the hands Of
the opponents of prob ibition Just at
this moment. They undoubtedly would
have aroused less opposition and re-
celved more help if they had been
willing to wait until the dust had set
tied and the air was clear"
Calls it Throwing Dust
When asked if he considered the
declaration of war on tobacco had been
made in good faith or was part of a
movement to oppose enforcement of
prohibition, he said: "Both are in
volved. There is and has been since
can remember an educational move
On the other hand, the opponents Of
prohibition are wilfully trying to mis-
lead the public into believing the anti
alcohol and anti-tobacco movements
are part Of the same thing. It can
not be supposed for a moment that the
generally intelligent men connected
with the movement to nullify prohibi-
ton do not know that there is a fund.-
mental distinction between liquor and
tobacco, and that the courts of last
resort have held that the liquor traffic
has no such thing as constitutional
rights. 1t is obvious that this state
to tobacco and is not likely ever to
exist"
Regarding efforts to prevent the use
of tobacco by constitutional amend
ment, Mrs. Ella A. Boole, president of
the Woman's Christian Temperance
Union, last night said:
"The w. c. 7. U. is not contcmplat-
ing any amendment to the Constitution
now. We did not start this anti
tobacco campaign. The anti-tobacco
work of the organization is confined
to that Of the anti-narcotic branch, is
largely among children and VIC arc not
placing undue emphasis on it at this
time"