Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1921-06-02
TOBACCO'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-
tion Measure During Year.

'Is tobacco going to have its scalp
added to the Belt of the prohibitionist
beside that Of the lamented but as
yet not altogether late alcohol?" is
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 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:
(D 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?
81 Is the use of tobacco personal
ly Objectionable to you?
No arguments accompanied the ques-
tions and from their form it was i'm
possible for any editor to detsrmine
the attitude of the questioners.
Out of 12,51S editors questioned,
7,847 replied according to the summary
given. These editors, it is estimated,
represent a combined circulation of
21,870,046. OF the 7,847 editors reply
ing, 1888, or 95 per cent, represent
public sentiment In their communities
as opposed to anti-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 per cent. in doubt, while 20 failed
to record their judgment
Editors Judgment Unbiased
'It is Of special interest to note
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 tobacco-ar
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 tc
prohibition of tobacco came from Utah
i where AZ per cent of the editors
/ thought the public were for such 6
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, Ths
Mormon Church Is also strong in Idaho
| Whieh Is the other state where the ust
of tobacco was recently prohibited
I but the governor has signed the bill
! just passed, In which the prOhibitOr!
legislation is repealed. In this stat,
SO per cent of the editors estimate
sentiment In their communities a!
against tobacco prohibition, which
nevertheless, Is 8 per cent below th'
average reported opposition.
'The legislature Of Tennessee somt
weeks ago passed and the governor
has signed a bill repeating the anti
/ cigarette law Of that state The ques
tionnaire showed 90 per cent of it
editors believed the public agains
anti-tobacco legislation. The legisla
ture of Arkansas has also passed 1
bill repeating its anti-cigarette law. II
this state "a per cent of the editor,
reported against tobacco prohibition.
Arlzona's Practical Joke
"a bill, introduced In the curren
session of the legislature of Arizons
to prohibit smoking in public dinin,
rooms and other public places, wa,
first amended to prohibit the consump
tiOn in public of peanuts, chewin,
gum, tea and coffee and then defeated
by the senate, The questionnair,
feturns from that state were 92 Pc
cent no.
"ln Iowa where the nos were q
ner cent a bill to repeal the anti
cigarette law has been passed an'
signed by the governor.
"A bill to repeal the anti-cigarett
law in Kansas, with 50 per cent nos
Is receiving the attention of its legis
iature. Last year q petition for
referendum in Oregon to prohibit tn
use of tobacco failed of sufficient sig
natures to bring the question to
vote, and 95 per cent of the editor
declare their public against legislation
In Oklahoma an anti-cigarette bill ha
been reported unfavorably IN tn
house. The editors of that state II
! ported "a per cent against its publ
] support.
Outside of Utah, where Mormo
/ influence predominates," the articl
I concludes, "the anti-tobaccO move
: ment appears, as In the case OF Tel
nessee, Arkansas and Iowa, to be los
: Ing ground and is not to any consfC
erable extent supported by the pee
ple."
The friends of tobacco feel particl
I iarly elated over this showing, ina'
I nueh as 1A20-21 was a maximum yea
IH legislative circles with AZ state lei
I Rtures in session and the tobacco sui
i fest received an unusual amount &