The Oklahoma miner. [volume] (Krebs, Okla.) 1912-192?, 1921-06-09
TOBACCO'S FOES
LOSING GROUND
Canvass Of 7,847 Editors Shows
1888 Communities Against
AbOIiShing Weed.
ANTS LOSE THREE STATES.
Uta%, Under Mormon Influence, Only
Commonwealth to Adopt Prohibi-
ton Measure During Year.

tion Measure During Year.
"Is tobacco going to have its scalp
added to the belt Of the prohibitiouist
beside that of the lamcntcd but as
yet not altogether late alcoholic" is
the question asked by Garret Smith
in an article in the current issue Of
Leslle'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 rcformcrs 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 hy the Press Service
Company of New York City.
The questions asked were:
Cd DO you favor the enactment of
laws prohibiting the personal use Of
tobacco by adults2
(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-
tions 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.
7S47 replied according to the summary
given. These editors 1t is estimated,
represent a combined circulation OF
2l,S10046 OF the 7,S47 editors reply
ing, 1898, or % per cent, represent
public sentiment in their communities
as opposed to anti-tobacco legislation.
Only 26O editors, or 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
at 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 IA
voed 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 40 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 hill
Just passed, in which the pruhibitory
Legislation is repealed. In this state
50 per cent of the editors estimate
sentiment in their communities as
against tobacco prohibition, which,
nevertheless, is per cent below the
aNc'"ge r.'orted opposition.
".le legislature of Tennessee some
weeks ago passed and the governor
has signed a bill repeating the anti
cigarette law of that state The Qucs-
tionnaire showed 93 per cent of it's
editors believed the public against
anti-tobacco legislation. The legisla-
ture OF Arkansas has also passed a
bin repeating its anu-cigarette law In
this state % 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 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
"In Iowa where the nos were ~
per cent bill to repeal the anti.
cigarette law has been passed ana
signed by the governor.
"A bin 10 repeal the anti-cigarctte
law in Kansas, with 80 per cent nos
is receiving the attention of It's legis-
Ia