The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1921-10-01
.T0bACC0'S FOES
LOSING GROUND
Canvass Of 7,847 Editors Shows
1888 Communities Against
AboIishing Weed.
ANTS LOSE THREE STATES.
Utah, Under Mormon Influence, Only
Commonwealth to Adopt Prohibi-
ton Measure During Year.

yet not altogether late alcoholic" is
the question asked by Carrot Smith
70 in an artfCfe-in the current Issue Of
Leslie's Magazine" .@5r n,
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:
CD Do you favor the enactment of
laws prohibiting the personal use Of.
tobacco by adults?
CD In your judgment does the gen.
eral sentiment Of your community
favor such legislation?
60 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 questioners.
Out of 1858 editors questioned,
7,S47 replied according to the summary,
given. These editors, it is estimated,
represent a combined circulation Of
21,S7O,O46 Of the 7,847 editors reply:
ing, 1898, or 95 per cent, represent;
public sentiment in their communities.
as opposed to anti-tobacco legislation.
Only 26O editors, or 3 per cent Of
those replying believed there was any
considerable sentiment favorable to
tobacco prohibition. There were 49,?
or 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 26O 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 to,
prohibition of tobacco came from Utah,
where ~ 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 signedethe bill
just passed, in which the prohibitory
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 a. 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
bill repeating it's anti-cigarette law. In
this state 94 per cent Of the edith
reported against tobacco prohibition. y
Arizona's Practical Joke -.
"a bin, 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 and coffee and then defeated
by the senate. The QUESTIONABLE
returns from that state were 90 per
cent no.
SIN Iowa where the nos were 95
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 SO per cent nos
is receiving the attention Of it's legis-
lature. Last year a&petition for a
referendum in Oregon to prohibit the
use of tobacco failed of sufficient sig
natures to bring the question to a
J. vote, and 90 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
tnessee, Arkansas and Iowa, to- be los
inA ground and is not to any consid-
err ble extent supported by the PEG
pR"
Ehe friends of tobacco feel particu.
lady elated over this showing, mas.
much as 192O-21 was maximum year
In legislative circles with AZ state leg.
latpres in session and the tobacco sub
ject received an unusual amount OF
consideration.