Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1921-05-28
TOBACCO'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 Prohibi-
ton Measure During Year.

the question asked by Carrot 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 is based on the
results of the qucstionnaires 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:
% 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 you?
No arguments accompanied the ques-
lions and from their form 1t was inn
| possible for any editor to determine
the attitude of the questoners.
Out of 12,51S editors questioned,
| 7,S47 replied according to the summary
given These editors, it is estimated,
represent combined circulation Of
tI,O obi nlyS
| ing, 1898, or 95 per cent, represent
public sentiment in their communities
as opposed to anti-tobacco legislation.
Only 260 editors, or 3 per cent of
those replying believed there was any
considerable sentiment favorable to
tobacco prohibition. There were ia,
or per cent, in doubt, while 20 failed
to record their judgment
Editors judgment Unbiased
st is of special interest to note
| that 500 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-ah
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 Il
| 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
| 50 per cent of the editors estimate
| sentiment in their communities as
| against tobacco prohibition, which,
| nevertheless, Is 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 the public against
anti-tobacco legislation The leglsla-
| ture Of Arkansas has also passed
| bill repeating its anti-cigarette law. In
this state "a 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
| first amended to prohibit the cOnsump-
ton in public of peanuts, chewing
gum, tea and coffee and then defeated
| by the senate. The questionable
cent mo-
an 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 antl-cigarette
law in Kansas, with SO per cent nos
Is receiving the attention Of its legis-
lature. Last year petition for
referendum in Oregon to prohibit the
use of tobacco failed Of sufficient sig
natures to bring the question to
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.
"0utside 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-
pie"
The friends Of tobacco feel particu-
larly elated over this showing, mas
much as 1920-21 was maximum year
in legislative circles with AZ state leg
latures In session and the tobacco sub