Milford chronicle., 1921-07-08
TOBACCO'S FOES
LOSING GROUND
Canvass of 7,847 Editors Shows
1888 Communities Against
AbOliShing Weed.
ANTS LOSE THREE, STATES.
Utah, Under Mormon Influence, Only
Commonwealth to Adopt Prohibi-
tion Measure During Year.

y
the question asked by Garret Smitl
in an article in the current issue o1
Leslie's Magazine"
The writer reaches the conclusion
that while there has been increased
agitation and legislative activity on
the subject of tobacco following the
success of the drive for prohibition
of liquor the efforts of reformers seek
ing to abolish tobacco have no general
support. This opinion is based on the
results of the questiOnnaires on the
subject sent out to newspaper editors
of the country by the Press Service
Company of New York City.
The questions asked were:
(D Do you favor 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?
(3) Is the use of tobacco personal
ly 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 12,51S editors questioned,
7,S47 replied according to the summary,
given. These editors, it is estimated,
represent a combined circulation of
21,870O46. OF the 1917 editors reply
ing, 1893, or 95 per cent, represent
public sentiment in their communities
as opposed to anti-tobaccO legislation.
Only 2G0 editors, or 8 per cent of
those replying believed there was any
considerable sentiment favorable to
tobacco prohibition. There were ia,
or > per cent, in doubt, while 20 failed
to record their judgment
Editors Judgment Unbiased
'It is Of special interest to note
that $50 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 42 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,
is 6 per cent below the
average reported opposition.
1.-THE legislature of Tennessee some
weeks ago passed and the governor
has signed a bill repeating the anti
cigarette law of that state. The ques-
tiOnnaire showed 90 per cent of its
editors believed the public against
legislation. The legisla-
ture of Arkansas has also passed a
bill repeating it's anti-cigarette law. In
this state "a per cent of the editors
against tobacco prohibition.
Arizona's Practical Joke
"a bill, introduced in the current
session of the legislature of Arizona I
to prohibit smoking in public dining
rooms and other public places, was
first amended to prohibit the consump-
lion in public of peanuts, chewing
gum, tea and coffee and then defeated
1y the senate. The QUESTIONABLE
'eturns from that state were 90 per q
cent no. !
'In Iowa where the nos were 95
Der cent a bill to repeal the anti S
cigarette law has been passed and i
signed by the governor. a
"a bill to repeal the anti-cigarette
aw in Kansas, with 80 per cent nos il
S receiving the attention of its legis- u
ature. Last year a petition for a
in Oregon to prohibit the
se of tobacco failed of sufficient sig
atures to bring the question to a 2
ote, and 95 per cent of the editors
eclare their public against legislation.
n Oklahoma an anti-cigarette bill has
cen reported unfavorably in the
Ouse. The editors of that state re- g
orted "a per cent against it's public II
uppOrt. N
"Outside of Utah, where Mormon
lfuence predominates," the article al
oncludes, "the anti-tObacco move lie
lent appears, as in the case of Ten III
essee, Arkansas and Iowa, to be los W
lg ground and is not to any consid- IL IL
rable extent supported by the peo- ~, ~
e." ~ -
The friends Of tobacco feel particu- Al
rly elated over this showing, mas hi
uch as 1920-21 was a maximum year fiC
legislative circles with ~ state leg
lures in session and the tobacco sub tb
ct received an unusual amount Of ct
pc
PC
There are said to be 100000 men py
81 III