Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1921-05-26
1OBACCO'S FOES
LOSING GROUND
Canvass Of 7,847 Editors Shows
1893 Communities Against
Abolishing Weed.
lAHTlS LOSE THREE STATES.
~usah. Under Mormon influence, Only
Commonwealth to Adopt Prohlbl-
fIon Measure During Year.

IT'S tobacco going to have its scalp
added to the belt of the prohibitionist
beside that of the lamentcd but as
yst net altogether late alcoholT is
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
sgscsss 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 auestionnaires on the
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 adults?
90 In your judgment does the gen.
eral sentiment Of your community
favor such legislatlonf
90 Is the use Of tobacco personal
~ Objectionable to your
No arguments accompanied the ques-
tions and from their form 1t was Inn
possible for any editor to determine
the attitude of the questioners.
Out Of 1858 editors questioned.
7,s47 replied according to the summary
given. These editors, 1t is estimated,
represent a combined circulation Of
1,e70,o48. OF the 7,ea7 editors reply
ing, 1893, or o5 per cent, represent
public sentiment in their communities
as opposed to anti-tobacco legislation.
Only 200 editors, or per cent OF
those replying believed there was any
considerable sentiment favorable to
tobacco prohibition. There were 1T4,
OF 2 per cent In doubt, while 20 failed
te record their Judgment.
Editors judgment Unbiased
.Tt Is Of special interest to note
that 609 editors In answering the FIRST
question, personally favored such
legislation, although only 200 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
Tic opinion from their own personal
opinions" tho article continues.
'%he 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
sf tobacco was recently prohibited,
but the governor has signed the bill
just passed, In which the prohlbitory
legislation Is repealed. In this state
30 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 a bin repeating the anti
cigarette law Of that state. Tho ques-
tisnnAire showed 90 per cent Of its
editors believed the public against
anti-kohacco legislation. The leglsla-
thEe of Arkansas hns also passed a
hill repeating Its anti-cigarette law. In
tkis state 04 per cent OF the editors
soported against tobacco prohibition.
AFizona's Practical Joke
"A bill, introduced in the current
session OF the legislature Of Arizona
" prohibit smoking In public dining
rooms and other public places, was
nrst amended to prohibit the consump.
tiOn 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.
TN Iowa where the nos were as
per cent till 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 so per cent mos,
IL receiving the attention Of Its legls.
lature. Last year n petition for a
referendum In Oregon TO prohibit the
use OF tobacco failed Of sufficient sig
natures 10 bring the question TO a
vote. and 05 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 04 per cent against Its public
support.
"Outside Of Utah, where Mormon
influence predominates,s the article
concludes, "the anti-tobacco move
tnent 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-
lariy eIated over this showing, mas
much as 1D20-2l was maximum year
In legislative circles with 40 state leg
laturos In session and the t0bncco sub
tect received an unusual amount Of
consideration.
-
New Advertisements