New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1921-05-28
ITOBACCO'S FOES
l. 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.

rs toDaCco gong 10 nave Its seal
added to the belt Of the prohibitions
beside that OF the lamented but n
yet not altogether late aIcohol?" II
the question asked by Carrot Smith
I'm an article In the current issue q
.Leslle's Magazine
The writer reaches the conclusion
that while there has been increased
agitation and legislative activity or
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:
% Do you favor the enactment of
laws prohibiting the personal use of
tobacco by adults?
ca In your judgment does the gen
eral sentiment of your community
favor such legislation?
(O 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 12.5lS editors questioned,
7,S47 replied according to the summary
/ given. These editors, it Is estimated,
represent combined circulation OF,
21,S7O,O46 OF the 7,S47 editors reply-t
ing, 1888, 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 ia,
or per cent, in doubt, while 20 failed
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 26O of them
reported that public opinion also fa-
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 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 signed the bill,
just passed, in which the prohibitory
legislation is repealed. In this slater
50 per cent of the editors estimator
sentiment in their communities as
nevertheless, is 6 per cent below the
average reported opposition.
''The legislature Of Tennessee some,
weeks ago passed and the governorl
has signed a bill repeating the anti
cigarette law Of that state The ques-I
tionnare showed 90 per cent Of it's
editors believed the public against
anti-tobacco legislation. The legisla-,
ture of Arkansas has also passed a.
bill repeating it's 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 eonsump-
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.
I'm Iowa where the nos were 95 |
per CeHt Dill 10 TepeAt the anti
cigarette law has been passed and
signed by the governor.
"A bill to repeal the anti-cigarette
law in Kansas, with 80 per cent nos
is receiving the attention Of its legis-
lature. Last year petition for a
referendum in Oregon to prohibit the
use Of tobacco failed Of sufficient sig i
natures to bring the question to q
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- I
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 ms in the case Of Ten |
nessee. Arkansas and Iowa. to be los
ing ground and is not to any copsid-
cradle extent supported by the peo-
pie"
The friends Of tobacco feel particu-
larry elated over This showing mas