New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1921-06-10
TOBACCO'S FOES
LOSING GROUND
Canvass Of 7,847 Editors Shows
1893 Communities Against
AboIishing Weed.
ANTS LOSE THREE STATES.
Utah. Under Mormon Influence, Only
Commonwealth to Adopt ProhIbi.
ton Measure During Year.

beside that Of the lamented but as
yet not altogether late alcoholf" ia
the question asked by Garrett 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 we're:
~ Do you favor the enactment Of
iaws prohibiting the personal use Of
tobacco by adultsf
co In your judgment does the gen.
eral sentiment of your community
lhNtE su'H ltElsiutiohf
(3) Is the use Of tobacco personal
ly Objectionable TO you?
No arguments accompanied the ques-
lions and from their form it was i'm
possible for any editor to determine
the attitude Of the Q~uestioners.
Out of l2,51S editors questioned,
7,S47 replied according to the summary
given. These editors, 1t is estimated,
! represent a combined circulation of
p, S7O.O46. OF the 1917 editors reply.
ing, 1898, or 90 per cent, represent
public sentiment in their communities
as opposed TO anti-tobacco legislation,
Only 260 editors, or 3 per rel 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
ut is of special interest to note
that 500 editors In answering the first
question, personally favored such
legislation, although only 260 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 L.
prohibition Of tobacco came from Utah,
where a. 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
east 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,
hut the governor has signed the bill
lust passed, I'm which the prohibltory
legislation Is repealed. In this state
50 per cent of the editors estimate
sentiment in their communities as
against tobacco prohibition, which,
nevertheless, is G per cent below the
average reported opposition.
"The Legislature Of Tennessee some
weeks ago passed and the governor
has signed n hill repeating the anti
cigarette law of that state. The ques-
tionnaire showed % per cent of its
editors believed the public against
a~nti-tOhacco legislation. The l~egisla-
ture of Arkansas has also passed a
bill repeating its anti-cigarette law. In
this state % 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.
tlon 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 o.
per cent a bill to repeal the anti
cigarette law has been passed and
signed by the governor.
"A bill to repeal the anti-clgarette
law in Kansas. with 50 per cent nos,
is receiving the attention Of its legis
lature. Last year n petition for a
referendum In Oregon to prohibit the
use of tobacco failed Of sufficient sig
natures to bring the question to a
vote, and 95 per cent Of the editors
declare their public against legislation
In Oklahoma an anti-clgarette bill ha:
been reported ~unfavorahly in the
house. The editors of that state re
ported - per cent against its public
support.
Outside Of Utah. where Mormon
influence predominates,' the articl,
concludes, '.he anti-tobacco move
ment appears. as in the case IF Ten
nessee. Arkansas aud Iowa, to he los
ing ground and is not 10 any. consid
I cradle extent supported by the PEG
ple.7
The friends of tobacco feel particu
larry eIated over this showing. mas
much as 1920-21 was a maximum veal
in legislative circles with ~ state leg
latures in session and the tobacco sub
iect received an unusual amount o.
consideration.