The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1921-06-29
TOBACC0'S FOES
LOSING GROUND
Canvass of 7,847 Editors Shows
1898 Communities Against
AboIishing Weed.
ANTS LOSE THREE STATES.
Utah, Under Mormon Influence, Only
Commonwealth to Adopt Prehlbl
ton Measure During Year.


ton Measure During Year.
Is tobacco going to have its scalp
added to tho belt Of the prohibitionist
beside that Of the lamented but a.
yet not altogether late alcsh0lr' In
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 10 abolish tobacco have no general
support. This opinion is based on the
results of the questionnaires on the
subject sent cut 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?
(2) In your judgment does the gen.
eral sentiment of your community
favor such legislation?
90 Is the use of tobacco personal
ly Objectionable TO you?
No arguments accompanied the ques-
tons and from their form IL 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, Il il estimated,
represent a combined circulation of
81 ,S70,046. OF the 7,S47 editors reply
ing, 1898, or 95 per cent, represent
public sentiment In their communities
as opposed to aAti-tobacco legislation
Only 260 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
at is Of special interest to nete
that $50 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 tobacc0-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
where AZ per cent of the editors
thought the public were for such q
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 Msr.
mon Church was against tobacco. The
Mormon Church Is also strong In Idaho
Of tobacco was recently prohibited
but the governor has signed the bill
Just passed, in which the prohibitory
legislation is repealed. In this state
80 per cent of the editers estimate
sentiment in their communities ai
against tobacco prohibition, which
nevertheless, In 8 per cent below the
average reported opposition.
1.-The legislature Of Tennessee some
weeks ago passed and The governor
has signed a bill repeating the anti
cigarette law Of that state. The CUES
tionnaire showed 90 Per cent OF itl
editors believed the public against
anti-tobacco legislation. The legisla
ture Of Arkansas has alss passed q
bill repeating its anti-cigarette law. In
this state "a per cent Of the editor,
reported against tobacco prohibition.
ArIzsna's Practical joke
"A bill, introduced I'm the current
session Of the legislature Of Arisons
to prohibit smoking in public dininl
rooms and other public places, wa,
frst amended to prohibit the censump
ton in public of peanuts, chewing
gum, tea and coffee and then defeated
by the senate. Tia questionable
returns from that state were &c psi
cent mo-
I'm Iowa where tia nos were o,
per cent q bin to repeal the anti
cigarette law has been passed ant
signed by the governor
"A bill to repeal the anti-cgarett,
law in Kansas, with % per cent nos,
Is receiving the attention Of It's legis
lsture. Last year a petition for 1
referendum In Oregon ta>nEs6Ipit a