The Ocala banner., 1921-10-07

Canvass Of 7,847 Editors Shows
1893 Communities Against
AboIishing Weed.
ANTS LOSE THREE STATES.
Utah, Under Mormon influence, Only
comnonweait to Adopt Prohibi-
ton Measure During Year.


added to the belt Of the prohibitionist
beside that Of the lamented but as
yet not altogether late aIcohol?', IS
the question asked by Garret 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
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 were:
"a Do YOU favor the enactment of
laws prohibiting the personal use OF
tobacco By adultss
(2) In your judgment does the gem
eral sentiment of your community
favor such legislation?
CD Is the use of tobacco PERSONAL
lly objectionable to you?
No arguments accompanied the ques-
tions and from their form it was inn
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, it Is estimated,
represent combined circulation Of
21,S70O46. OF the 7,S47 editors reply
ing, 1898, or 95 per cent, represent
public sentiment in their communities
as opposed to anti-tobacco legislation.
Only 260 editors, or 3 per cent of
those replying believed there was any
considerable sentiment favorable to
tobacco prohibition There were ia,
or 2 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 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.
.sThe 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
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 state
80 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
'sThe legislature OF Tennessee some
weeks ago passed and the governor
has signed bill repeating the anti
cigarette law of that state The ques-
tionnaire showed 93 per cent Of it's
editors believed the public against
anti-tobacco legislation. The legisla-
ture of Arkansas has also passed
bill repeating its anti-cigarette law In
this state 94 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 90 per
cent no.
I'm Iowa where the nos were o.
per cent a bin to repeal the anti
cigarette law has been passed and
signed by the governor
"A bin to repeal the anti-cigarette
law in Kansas, with SO per cent nos,
is receiving the attention Of its legis-
lature. Last year petition for
referendum in Oregon to prohibit the
use of tobacco failed of sufficient sig
natures to bring the question to
vote. and 95 per cent of the editors
declare their public against legislation
In Oklahoma an anti-cigarette bin has
been reported unfavorably in the
house The editors of that state re-
ported 81 per cent against its public
support.
sOutside Of Utah, where Mormon
influence predominates.s : the article
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