The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1921-06-17
Canvass 81 7,047 Editors Shows
1889 Communities Against
AbolishinQ Weed.
ANTS LOSE THREE STATES.
Utah, Under Mormon Influence, Only
Commonwealth to Adopt Prohibi-
ton Measure During Year.


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 u to newspaper editors
OF the country by the Press Service
Company Of New York City.
The questions asked were:
"a 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-
tons and from their form it 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, 1t is estimated,
represent a combined circulation OF
21.S70.O46. OF the 7.S47 editors reply
ing, 1888, or 90 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 TIA,
or 2 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 260 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 AZ per e n 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 signed the bill
just passed, in which the p%rohibitory
legislation is repealed. In this state
50 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. 80 ga
.sThe 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 93 per cent OF its
| editors believed the public against
anti-tohacco Legislation. The legisla-
ture OF Arkansas has also passed n
bill repeating its anti-cigarette law. In
this state 81 per cen OF the editors
reported against tobacco prohibition,
A~rizona's Practical Joke
"A bill, introduced in the current
session OF the legislature M Arizona
to prohibit smoking in public dining
rooms and other public places, was
first amended to prohibit the consump.
stion In public OF peanuts. chewing
gun, ten and coffee and then defeated
by the senate. The questionnafre
returns from that state we're 2 per
| cent mo,
TN Iowa where the 'noss' were 81
per cent ia bill to repeal. the anti
cigarette law has been passed and
signed By the governor.
"A bill to repeal the an~ti-cisnrette
law In Kansas, with 00 per cent NOS
u receiving the attention Of it, legie
! lature. Inst year 4 petition FOR i
referendum IN Oregon to prohibit the
me Of tobacco failed Of shficiept sig.
natures to bring the QUESTION 10
vote, and IS per cent Of the EDITOR
declare tfIsir public against legislation
IN Oklahoma an anti-cigarette blll hal
been nrofted unfavorably IA III
house. editors Of that stata -
ported = per cent AGAINST its publi<
supp0rt.
Outstds u Utah, whsrs Moesnor
influences predominafes, tho asticll
conclndes. .ths anti-fobacco movs
meat appsefa, q a the case n IN
neosee. Arkaneas and lows, ~ A1sa
ms ground and ~ not ~ any co1ola
erabls extsnt snpported ~ ~ -
~. I
ne friends cf tobacco feel paF<e.
Iarly elated over this showing, ~
much - i020-21 49, > maxlnnn -
n is6tslative circles viii ~ atafA IN
HzlafnfGnf1n ee6ntnnz and III fOiinccN $50