The Connecticut labor news., 1921-10-28
TOBACCO'S FOES
 LOSING GROUND
Canvass of 7,847 Editors Shows 7,393 Communities Against
 AboIishing Weed.
ANTS LOSE THREE STATES.
Utah, Under Mormon Influence, Only Commonwealth to Adopt Prohibh4
 tion Measure During Year.


 added to the belt of the prohibitionist beside that of the lamented but as yet not altogether late alcohol2" is the question asked by Garret Smith in an article in the current issue of 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:
 CD Do geu favor the enactment of laws prohibiting the personal use of tobacco by adults?
 CD In your judgment does the gen eral sentiment of your community favor such legislation?
 t3) Is the use of tobacco personal ly objectionable to you?
 No arguments accompanied the Ques- tions and from their form it was im-~ possible for any editor to determine the attitude of the questioners. Out of 12,518 editors questioned, 7,847 replied according to the summary given: These editors, it is estimated, represent a combined circulation of 21,S7O,O46. Of the 7,S47 editors reply ing, 1898, or 95 per cent, represent public sentiment in their communities as opposed to anti-tobacco legislation. Only 26O editors, or per cent of those replying believed there was any considerable sentiment favorable to tobacco prohibition. There were 174, or per cent, in doubt, while 20 failed to record their judgment. Editors Judgment Unbiased
 'It is of special interest to note that 569 editors in answering the first question, personally favored such legislation, although only 26O of them reported that public opinion also ia 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, i 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 whG 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 S9 per cent of the editors estimate sentiment in their communities as against tobacco prohibition, which, nevertheless, is per cent below the average reported opposition. "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 93 per cent of its 1 editors believed the public against anti-tobacco legislation. The legisla- ture of Arkansas has also passed a bill repeating it's 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 l by the senate. The questiQnnafre returns from that state were 92 per l cent no
 "In Iowa where the nos were 95 per cent a bill to repeal the anti cigarette law has been passed and signed by the governor.
 "A bill to repeal the anti-cigarette law in Kansas, with S9 per cent nos | Is receiving the attention of it's legis- l lature. Last year a petition for a referendum in Oregon to prohibit the use of tobacco failed of sufficient sig l natures to bring the question to l vote, ana 50 per cent or the editors 1 declare their public against legislation In Oklahoma an anti-cigarette bill has 1 been reported unfavorably in the | house. The editors of that state re- | ported 94 per cent against it's public support.
 "Outside of Utah, where Mormon l 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- | erable extent supported by the peo. pie"
 | The friends of tobacco feel part1cu- l larly elated over this showing. inas- much as 192021 was a maximum year in legislative circles with 42 state leg | latures in session and the tobacco sub-
 tect received an unusual amount of | <ohe6ara tiOn