Middletown transcript., 1921-06-18
I11'ODACC0'S FOES
LOSING GROUND
Canvass of 7,847 Editors Shows
1888 Communities Against
AboIishing Weed.
.ANTIS LOSE THREE STATES.
Utah, Under Mormon Influence, Only
Commonwealth to Adopt Prohibi-
8 tion Measure During Year.

'Is tobacco going to have its scalp
added to the belt Of the prohibitionist
beside that Of the lamented but as
yet not altogether late alcohol?" is
the question asked by Garret Smith
I'm an article In the current issue Of
,Leslies 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 your
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 q combined circulation Of
| 21,S7O,O46. OF the 7,847 editors reply
ing, 1888, or 95 Der cent, represent
public sentiment in their communities
as opposed to anti-tobaeco legislation
| Only 26O editors, or per cent Of
those replying believed there was any
considerable sentiment favorable to
| tobacco prohibition. There were 174,
| or 2 per cent, in doubt, while 20 failed
to record their judgment.
Editors Judgment Unbiased
1T is Of special interest to note
that $50 editors in answering the first
question, personally favored such
legislation, although only 260 Of them
reported that public opinion also IA
voled 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.
1.-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 prohibtory
| 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 SO per cent Of it's
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 81 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
tion in public of peanuts, chewing
gum, tea and coffee and then defeated
by the senate. The questionable
returns from that state were 90 per
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 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 a
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-
ple."
The friends Of tobacco feel particu.
larly elated over this showing, mas.
much as 1920-21 was q maximum year
in legislative circles with AZ state leg.
latures In session and the tobacco sub.
ject received an unusual amount OF