New Ulm review., 1921-06-22

NJ 10 you laVOr the enactment OF
laws prohibiting the personal use Of
tobacco by adults?
(2) In your judgment does the gen.
eral sentiment Of your community
favor such legislation?
Nsst3) Is the use of tobacco personal
~ Objectionable to you?
No arguments accompanied the ques-
tions and from their form it was i'm
possible for any editor to determine
the attitude of the questioners.
Out Of 12,518 editors questioned,
7,S47 replied according to the summary
given. These editors, it is estimated,
represent combined circulation Of
21,870,046. OF the 7.847 editors reply
ing, 1898, or 95 per cent, represent
public sentiment in their communities
as opposed to anti-tobacco legislation.
Only 26O editors, or 8 per cent Of
those replying believed there was any
considerable sentiment favorable to
tobacco prohibition. There were ia,
or 2 per cent, in doubt, while 20 failed
to record their judgment.
Editors Judgment Unbiased
1T is of special interest to note
that 500 editors in answering the first
question, personally favored such
legislation, although only 26O of them
reported that public opinion also fa-
vored the prohibition of tobacco an
indication Of the conscientious effort
made by the editors to distinguish pub
lie opinion from their own personal
opinions" the article continues.
'"The highest percentage of replies
reporting public opinion favorable to
prohibition Of tobacco came from Utah,
where AZ per cent Of the editors
thought the public were for such a
movement. Utah is the only state
which has since adopted an anti
cigarette law. The result was fore
cast by several of the editors who
stated that the influence of the Nor
mon Church was against tobacco. The
Mormon Church is also Strong in Idaho,
which Is the other. state where the use
OF tobacco was recently prohibited,
but the governor has signed the bill
just passed, in which the prohibitory
legislation is repealed. In this state
80 per cent of the editors estimate
sentiment in their communities as
against tobacco prohibition, which,
nevertheless, is 6 per cent below the
average reported opposition.
"The legislature of Tennessee some
weeks ago passed and the governor
has signed bill repeating the anti
cigarette law of that state. The ques-
tionnaire showed 90 per cent Of it's
editors believed the public against
anti-tobacco legislation. The legisla-
ture Of Arkansas has also passed a
bill repeating its anti-cigarette law. In
this state 94 per cent of the editors
reported against tobacco prohibition.
Arizona's Practical Joke
"A bill, introduced in the current
session Of the legislature Of Arizona
to prohibit smoking in public dining
rooms and other public places, was
first amended to prohibit the consump-
tion in public of peanuts, chewing
gum, tea and coffee and then defeated
by the senate. The QUESTIONABLE
returns from that state were 81 per
cent no.
In Iowa where the nos were 95
per cent bill to repeal the anti
cigarette law has been passed and
signed by the governor.
IA bill to repeal the anti-cigarette
law in Kansas, with SO per cent nos,
is receiving the attention of its legis-
| lature. Last year petition for. a
| referendum in Oregon to prohibit the
use of tobacco failed Of sufficient sig.
natures to bring the question to q
vote, and 95 per cent Of the editors
declare their public against legislation
In Oklahoma an anti-cigarette bill has
been reported unfavorably in the
house. The editors of that state re.
ported "a per cent against it's public
support.
"Outside Of Utah, where Mormon
influence predominates, the article
concludes, "the anti-tobacco move
ment appears, as in the case Of Ten
nessee, Arkansas and Iowa, to be los
Ing ground and is not to any consid
cradle extent supported by the peo
pie"
The friends Of tobacco feel particu
larly elated over this showing, mas
much as 1920-21 was maximum yea
In legislative circles with AZ state leg
latures in session and the tobacco sub
ject received an unusual amount o
consideration.