Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1921-06-17
|TOBhCCO'S FOES
LOSING GROUND
Canvass of 7,847 Editors Shows
1888 Communities Against
Aholishlng Weed.
ANTS LOSE THREE STATES.
Utah, Under Mormon Influence, Only
ommonweath to hdcpf Prohibit
tion Measure During Year.

us tobacco going to have fits scall
added to the belt Of the prohibitions
beside that of the lamented but a:
yet not altogether late alcoholic i:
the question asked by Garrett Smltl
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 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.
4he questions asked were:
ID DO you favor the enactment OF
laws prohibiting the personal use OF
tobacco by adults2
90 In your judgment does the gen
eral sentiment of your community
favor such legislation?
(3) Is the use of tobacco personal
Iy 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
7,S47 replied according to the summary
given. These editors, it is estimated
represent a combined circulation OF
21,870.046. or the 7,847 editors reply
ing, 1888, or 95 per cent, represent
public sentiment in their communities
as opposed to anti-tObacco legislation
Only 260 editors, or 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
ut is OF special interest to note
that 500 editors in answering the first
question, personally favored suci
legislation, although only 260 Of then
reported that public opinion also ia
voIed the prohibition of tobacco-ar
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 tC
prohibition of tobacco came from Utah
where AZ per cent of the editors
thought the public were for such 4
movement. Utah is tile only stat,
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. Tie
Mormon Church Is also strong In Idaho
which Is the other state where the use
or 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 ms
against tobacco prohibition, which,
nevertheless, is 9 per cent below the
average reported opposition.
"The legislature of Tennessee some
weeks ago passed and the governor
has signed bin repeating the anti
cigarette law of that state. The oues-
tionnaire showed 90 per cent of its
editors believed the public against
anti-tobacco legislation. The legisla-
ture OF Arkansas has also passed n
bill repeating its anti-cigarette law In
this state Oh 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.
ton in public of peanuts, chewing
gum, tea and coffee and then defeated
by the senate. The QUESTIONABLE
returns from that state were 92 per
cent mo-
I'm Iowa where the nos were 95
per cent 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 50 per cent nos
is receiving the attention of its legis.
Iature. Last year a petition for n
referendum In Oregon to prohibit the
use of tobacco failed Of sufficient sig.
natures to bring the question to a
vote, and 90 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 81 per cent against its public
support
Outside of Utah. where Mormon
Influence predon,inates," the article
concludes, ''the anti-tobacco NOVA