The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-05-27
TObACCO'S FOES
L0S!l|9}((; GROUND
Canvass of 7,sH Editors Shows
1888 Communities Against
AhoIishing Weed.
ANTS LOSE THREE STATES.
Utah, Under Mormon influence, Only
Commemorative to Adopt Prohibi-,.
-tIon Measure During Year.

dQQeQ 10 the DeiC OF the pTOnloltloniS'
beside that of the lamented but os
yet not altogether late alcohol?" is
the question asked by Garret SmitE
In an article In the current issue Of
T.eslie'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 tlis
subject sent out to newspaper editors
Of the country by the Press Service
Company Of New York City.
The questions asked were:
ID Do you favor the enactment, Of
laws prohibiting the personal use Of
tobacco by adultsf
(2) In your judgment does the gen
eral sentiment Of your community
favor such legislation?
(S) Is the use Of tobacco personal
y Objectionable to you? .
No arguments accompanied the qres-
tions and from, their form 1t was inn
possible for any editor to determine
the attitude Of the questioners.
Out Of 12,51s editors questioned,
1,s47 replied according to the summary
given. These editors, It is estimated.
represent q combined circulation Of
>21. .S70,046. OF the 7,847 editors reply
ing, 1893, or 95 per cent, represent
public sentiment in their communities
as opposed to anti-tobacco legislation.
Only 260 editors, or 8 per cent Of
those replying believed there was any
considerable sentiment favorable to
tobacco prohibition. There were 174,
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 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 tile 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,
hut the governor has signed the bill
- ..-.- - 10 Prohibitory
legislation Is repealed. In this state
so per cent Sof the editors estimate
sentiment in their communities as
against tobacco prohibition, which,
nevertheless, Is 6 per cent below the
average reported opposition.
"The 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-tobacco legislation. The legisla-
ture Of Arkansas has also passed a
bill repeating It's anti-cigarette law. Tn
this estate 81 per cent Of the editors
reported against tobacco prohibition.
Arizona's Praetiea! 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
returns from that state were % per
cent no.
'In Iowa where the nos were 95
per cent a bill to repeal 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/a petition for q
referendum in Oregon to prohibit the
use Of tobacco failed Of sufficient sig
natures to bring the question to a
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.
"Outside of Utah, where Mormon
influence predominates," the article
concludes. "the antl-tobaccO mOyr-