The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-01-03

|M'KEEVER AND
LEGION FIGHT
OVER cICARET
University Professor i.
sues Challenge for
Debate On 'sPills. !"

Topeka. Jan. LII United Press. -
The cisaret row In Kansas goes
merrily on. With the Topeka post
Of the American Legion demanding
repeal Of the law prohibiting the
sale Of cigarets in the state, DR..
william A. McKeever Of Kansas
university today challenged the
legionnaires to debate this Ques-
ton:
Resolved. That the cigaret Is !
menace to the progress Of society
and should be done sway with"
The professor then appealed to
the Legion post members ito turn
from the selfish cigaret'' and come
out on the side Of Christ and Kan
sas."
The rumpus started when the
Legion here adopted q resolution
asking Governor Allen to urge the
coming session of the legislature
to repeal the anti-cigalet law which
forbids sale or fiift Of the cigaret
within the state and also prohibits
minors from smoking them in pub
lie. McKeever, who is author Of
the law, Immediately charged that
the Legion's move was INSPIRED
by certain big interests" The Le-
gion countered with . suggestion
that the governor cut MceKever on
the Kansas university pay roll.
Whereupon the professor challeng-
ed the youthful veterans to settle
the "cigaret question" by debate.
Shall Kansas return to the fes-
tive cigaret or shall she not-that
/, Is the question. The reformers say
mot"
"I hereby challenge any Of your
members" McKeever wrote. cor
! anyone in the United States whom
you may appoint for that purpose,
to debate with me the question:
Resolved, That the cigaret is q
menace to the progress of society
and should be done away WITH
"An admission fee can be charg-
cd and the proceeds be divided
/ equally and given finally to chari-
| ty and reform. I am also willing
! to divide equally the hall space
during the discussion. I will debate
the subject In the Topeka auditor
ium or elsewhere, either singly OF
/, with two speakers on q side.
In the discussion Of this subject
l haye absolutely no III will either
against the Topeka post or any in
.dividual member thereof. For this
post to pass q resolution asking
the governor to have my salary cut
| OFF, laugh at that as Q mean joke
and 90 on with my, purpose. Lei
the Topeka post accept this chal.
!enge and appoint their referee o.
forever hold their peace"
1 Thus does DR.. McKeever tell thu
pill supporters" where to head in
!! @Act Like Kids"
i II will say again." McKeevel
continued. that from outward ap
pearances the Topeka Legion boy
are acting like a lot Of kids-al
ways crying for their rights ant
their playthings. (Dr. MeKeever !,
considered an authority on chilli
psychology. Also, while l doub
II one in a score Of them is awar'
Of the fact that they have the ap
pearance Of being worked by com
; mercial interests, which would us
them as q screen-a smoke screel
for the tobacco trust which ha
some selfish purpose to pu
through.
"Their demand for an unrestrict
ed cigaret Is q piece Of petty self
ishness and is playing into tn
hands of those who are out to de
spoil the characters Of our womel
and children OF this country.
with every form Of commercial
lied deviltry preying upon the NOR
ais of the growing generation
Kansas was never so sorely in nee
Of an organized band Of youn
men-such as the Topeka pos
could be-to help in . fight to say
our boys and girls.
"If not for their own sake. l as
for the sake Of their wives, sisters
sweethearts and their little bab:e
!. living or yet to be born, to tur
? from the selfish cigaret and II
! soulless master and come. out o
the side Of Christ and Kansas"