, 1921-06-02
TOBACCO'S FOES
LOSING GROUND
Canvass of 7,847 Editors Shows
1893 Communities Against
Abolishing Weed.
ANTS LOSE THREE STATES.
Utah. Under Mormon influence, Only
Commonwealth to Adept Prohlbl-
tioa Measure During Year.

- ."- #.
Els tobacco going to have its scalp
added to tina belt Of the prohibitionise
beside that Of the lamented but a.
yet not altogether late alcoholf" 10
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 to abolish tobacco have no general
support. This opinion IL based on the
results Of the Qu%estionnaires on the
subject SEN out to newspaper editors
of the country by the Press Ssrvies
Company Of New York City.
The questions asked we're:
u) Do you favor the enactment Of
laws prohibiting the personal VI Q Of
tobacco by adults?
. (2) In your judgment does the gen.
erai sentiment Of your community
favor such legislation
(S) Is the use Of tobacco personal
ly Objectionable to you?
No arguments accompanied the Ques1
lions and from their form It was Inn
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 q combined circulation Of
q .S70,O46. OF the 7,S47 editors reply
ing, 1898, OF 95 per cent, represent
public sentiment in their commupities
as opposed to a~nti-tobacco legislation.
Only 200 editors, or 8 per cent Of
those replying believed there was any
considerable sentiment favorable to
tobacco prohibition. There were TIA,
to record their judgment.
Editors Judgment Unbiased
1T is of special interest to note
that 500 editors in answering the first
question, personally favored such
legislation. although only 200 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.
1.-THE highest percentage of replies
reporting public opinion favorable to
prohibition Of tobacco came from Utah,
where ~ per ent 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 IA 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
50 per cen Of the editors estimate
sentiment In their communities as
against tobacco prohibition. which,
nevertheless, Is 6 per cent below the
average reported opposition.
1.-THE legislature of Tennessee some
weeks ago passed and the governor
has signed q bill repeating the anti
cigarette law Of that state. The ques-
tionnaire showed 90 per cent Of its
editors believed the public against
a%nti-tobacco legislation. The legisla-
ture of Arkansas has also passed q
bill repeating Its anti-cigarette law. In
this state 81 per cent Of the editors
reported against tobacco prohibition.
Arlsena'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;
hrst amended to prohibit the consump-
ton In public Of peanuts, chewing
gum. tea and coffee and then debated
BY the senate. The questioanairoI
returns from that state were % PER-
cent mo-
I'm lows whore the NOS ven o6l
per cent Z bill to rPpeal the anti
cigarette law has bssn passed and
siened By the governor.
~ bin to repeat the anti-cisarctte|
law In Kansas, With % per csnt nos
D receiving the attention or III. LeEfs-]
latnre. Last ysar, q Detltiea to- u
rsepFeatnD In 0rieSa 70 prohibit Tt
90. Of taAAeco tailsd Of sa9essnt s1gt]
patRrsa to bring the QuAitfoa to
vats. md g psr. esat sf IL saseass|
dsolass tAsas public asailSe h1iN4tkea.I
n OktaAsoa 40 s1tEc1eAfstts kai Aabl