Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-12-08
FEWER CIGARS BEING MADE
But Antl.Tobaeco Crusade Is Not Re
sponslbIe; II Is a Matter Of
Labor Scarcity
By GEORGE NOx MCCAIN

BY GEORGE NOX MCCAIN
LvRED IL. BELTz the cigar manufac-
l. turer who has nine or ten factories scat
tered all the way from the Lehigh county
line to the lower end of York county, isn't
sitting up at nights worrying over the re-
Gently inaugurated anti tobacco crusade.
Fact is he tore a leaf from the book of his
experience and told me there were fewer
cigars manufactured now than before the
war.
People smoking less? Not bit of it,
except as the output has diminished. This
is not because of compunctions against their
use it is question of labor.
The war dccimatcd the ranks of cigar
makers just rs it did workers in other
trades. and now cigar manufacturers over
the country are working overtime to make
up the shortage.
OF the millions of cigars manufactured
annually in Pennsylvania the greater part
is made in the towns and villages. Thou
sands of small farmers are expert cigar
rollers. and in the winter when farmwork
is at standstill, they turn their hands to
cigarnaking.
While Mr.. Beltz did not throw any light
on the subject, | fancy that there are tens
of thousands of American soldiers who,
before the war; smoked cigars, but as re-
suit of inability to get them ''over there"
found solace in cigarettes and have stuck to
them ever since.
AS consistent churchman and the father
Of three sons who were in the service, Mr.
Beltz is courtcously speaking. of course, of
the private opinion that the anti tobacco
crusaders are chasing moonbcums when it
cQpcs to barring u wel-madc cigar from
polite society.
GEORGE NJ. DALLAS was the only
VI Mayor Of Philadelphia who ever reached
a seat in the United States Senate. Edwin
II. Fiter, before he became Mayor, tried for
it but failed. The fact is pertinent in con-
ncction with the statement of Mayor elect
Moore in an address at Washington in which
he stated that he was not giving any thought
to higher positions, but was devoting his
entire attention TO formulating plans for
good government in Philadelphia.
Dallas was not chosen United States sem
ator until three years after his term as
Mayor had expired. He was both popular
and able. Filters attempt was made two
years before he was elected Mayor, and his
candidacy served to focus the light of pub
lcity upon him and brought him promi-
nently to the front as mayoralty candi-
date.
This was in 1885, when the independent
spirit ran high in the Republican party.
Don Cameron had the inside track, and his
most formidable opponent, prior to the
caucus, was General James a. Beaver, of
Center county. So fearful were the Cameron
people of bolt that written pledge was
circulated among the independents whereby
the signatories agreed to support the choice
of the caucus.
In addition to Filter Philadelphia pre-
scented another candidate in this caucus in
the person of Congressman w. d. Kelley
the others were Major A. NJ. Brown, of
Pittsburgh General James A. Beaver, a.
w. Atchinson and Donald Cameron.
At the eleventh hour Beaver withdrew
and it was always maintained that he did
50 on the pledge of the Cameron people that
he would be given the nomination for Gov
ernor the ensuing year
The pledge was kept and Beaver was
elected Governor.
D OBERT =. SMITH, of Cambria county, /
AS who as Il member of the late federal
food administration was in charge of the
division of trade distribution regards the
present critical sugar situation from a diff
ferent angle from that of the ordinary
citizen.
1t was Mr. Smith S duty for over wear
to see that no county or town in the state
was without sugar under the government
rationing system. ReSultanty there were
IL
there was a temporary shortage the stu
alton was due to lack of railroad transpor-
tation.
Mr.. Smith is of the opinion that there are
considerable amounts of sugar boarded in
the state not particularly by business
houses. but by thousands of housewives.
Those possessed of sufficient means to pur-
chase an advance supply have, he thinks,
ample stocks laid by for emergency. The
al; af tha
an increased demand for sugar for soft
drinks. while the manufacture of candies
and chocolate confeCtions has increased
until today more sugar is being used than
ever before.
Equalization of the distribution of sugar
stocks is, he asserts, one of the causes of
the present sugar shortage The failure of
the government to purchase the Cuban sugar
crop is also partly responsible for the pres
ent regrettable condition.
There are numbers Of big concerns who
use sugar for manufacturing purposes who
are purchasing sugar at prices far in excess
of the fixed rate.
D REPRESENTATIVE JAMES FRANK
~ LIN, of West Philadelphia, emits a
semi occasional inward groan over the dis
heveled condition of the avenues of his
native city.
Oddly enough he, in great measure. alb
solves the street cleaning contractors. Not
necessarily because he is friend of Senator
Vares, but because he claims to have made
a study of conditions.
The former sergeant at arms of Select
Council gives it as his unbiased observation
that the citizens primarily, then the rag
pickers, and lastly the rubbish contractors
employees are the parties responsible for
the Uttered streets and trash strewn alleys.
He says every citizen should be compelled
to provide refuse can with a lid instead of
the open boxes and barrels filled to over
flowing. which several times a week clutter
the city's sidewalks. Rag pickers and paper