Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-02-17
Shall Women Smoke?
BY Frederic J. Haslem

Washington, u. c., Feb. 4.--What
may prove TO be the first battle in the war
/ against the usc Of tobacco in the United
| states particularly IA applied TO women
---hss just been wagcd here in the newly
organized Womcn's City Club.
More than 1000 representative women
OF the National Capital belong to this
club, the membership list including wives
Of cabinet members, women OF Congression-
al circles, and prominent professional and
society women. The club il housed in a
| beautiful residence overlooking Lafayette
| Square, just across from the White House.
| At one time during repairs on the cxecu-
tive mansion, the present club was the
| temporary home OF former President
Roosevelt and his family.
| Immediately upon the opening of the
clubhouse i'm November, pressure was
brought to bear upon the board Of direct
ors for permission, not only for the masc,i-
line guests Of the club to smoke, but for
the members themselves to enjoy this
privilege. II was suggested that n smoking
room be furnished where members of the
club and their feminine friends could IN
dulge themselves with q puff at their
fnvorite fag.
BATTLE STARTS.
In response TO the demand the board
gave directions for the furnishing of
suitable quarters for the smokers, desig-
Mating a large front room on the third
floor as the prospective smoking room.
The furnishings were purchased and
notice posted on the club bulletin board
To the effect that i'm accordance with the
wishes Of the members the smoking room
would be opened within short time. The
notice was observed by members who
gasped and exclaimed then the
battle was on.
courageous, declared Mrs. Emma s.
Shelton, president of the District OF
Columbia Worncn's Christian Temper
ance Union. II am simply amazed that
they even contemplate such thing.
shall certainly oppose the move.
"It's unwomaniy," declared Mrs. Court
4. Wood, former president Of the District
of Columbia Federation OF Wornen's
Clubs. Smoking is to be recommended
neither for its cleanliness, nor its thrift
ness. / am sure tho majority OF the MEM
bers will oppose it, =
fI believe in letting women do as they
please" was the retort OF the opposition,
voiced by Mrs. Nina C. Van Winkle, head
of the Wonans Bureau Of the District
Of Columbia Police Department, and
prominent in social work among women.
sfTf they want to smoke, let EN-. ! do not,
but it is because / don't like to do it. !"
'tIf this club is going IN be either
kindergarten or a Sunday school, | shall
send in my resignation" declared other
members, who were devotees Of the weed.
For two months the argument between
the opposing factions waved hot and
furious, until the harried board OF direct
ors decided To put the matter to vote,
setting an early date in January for the
decision. This meeting was well attended.
Friends and enemies Of My Lady Nico-
tine turned out in full force. There we're
so many arguments pro and con that
final decision was postponed until an
other meeting in February.
At the February meeting the smokers
won, and the board of directors were ln-
structed to complete the preparation for
the smoking room. But despite the settle
ment of the dispute in favor of the sTnok-
ers, the other side declared the war was not
over Mrs. Theodore Moore, vice-presi-
dent Of the W. G. T. T., limited that the
matter might eliminate IN a nationwide
campaign on the part Of her organization
10 abolish the cigarette. ''The time Is not
ripe as yet, she said ominously, but
MAY PREcIPITArE FIGHT.
Possibly this incident will precipitate
the iong-threatened fight-to-the-finish be-
tween the anti-tobacco forces of the coun-
try and the tobacco interests. Alarmed by
the reports OF the growth of the habit
among young girls, the Methodist Episco-
pal Board OF Temperance has already fred
the opening shot, particularly stressing
the injurious effects of the habit on the
health of women. They deplore the habit
as phase of the present day feminism
that claims for women every privilege en-
joyed by men. Concerning the justice of
this demand there can be no question.
Concerning its expediency, much can be
said
Women as rule, they claim. owing to