Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1921-06-09
Utah, Under Mormon Influence, Only
Commonwealth t. Adept ProhIbi-
ton Measure During Year.

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:
ID DO you favor the enactment Of
laws prohibiting the personal use of
tobacco by adults?
ca 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-
tons and from their form 1t was i'm
possible for any editor to determine
the attitude of the questiOners.
Out Of 12.51S oGitoy& questioned,
7,S4T replied according to the summary
given. These editors, II Is estimated,
represent combined circulation Of
21,9700t6 OF the 1871 editors reply
ing, 1893, or 05 per cent, represent
public sentiment in their communities
as opposed to anti-tobacco legislation
Only 200 editors. or per cent Of
those replying believed there was any
considerable sentiment favorable to
tobacco prohibition. There were ia,
or per cent, IN doubt, while 90 failed
TO record their Judgment
Editors Judgment Unbiased
t. &c - ~ i-to
that $50 editors in answering the first
question, personally favored such
legislation, although only $50 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 pTb-
lie opinion from their own personal
opinions" the article c~u;!nues.
THE highest percentage Of replies
reporting ";:hlic 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 prohibitory
legislation is repealed. In this state
so per cent of the editors estimate
sentiment in their communities az
against tobacco prohibition, which,
nevertheless, Is 8 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 90 per cent Of its
editors believed tie public against
anti-tobacco legislation. The legisla-
turc of Arkansas has also passed
bill repeating its anti-cigarette law. In
this state "a per cent of the editors
reported against tobacco prohibition.
Ar'zohas rract'oa' JOKE
"A Dill, 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-
ton IN public OF peanuts, chewing
gum, tea ana coffee and then defeated
by the senate, The qucstionnaire
returns from that state were % per
cent no
I'm Iowa where the nos were %
per cent 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 80 per cent nos
is receiving the attention of Its legis