The Jones County news., 1921-07-07
T0bACCO'S FOES
LOSING GROUND
Canvass of 7,847 Editors Shows
1888 Communities Against
AboIishing Weed.
ANTS LOSE THREE STATES.
Utah, Under Mormon influence, Only
Commonwealth 10 Adopt Prohsbi-
tion Measure During Year.

Jet lyi hjADRftArI hto htfUbHif
the question asked by Garrst Smith
IN an article In the current issue oi
Leslie's Magazine"
The writer reaches the conclusion
that while there has been increased
agitation and legislative activity 90
! the subject OF tobacco following the
SUCCESS Of the drive for prohibition
OF liquor the efforts Of reformers seslr
ing 70 abolish tobacco have no general
support. This opinion 10 based on thu
results Of the questionnaires on tss
subject sent out to newspaper editors
OF the country by the Press Services
Company Of New York City.
The questions asked were:
ID DO you favor the enactment OF
laws prohibiting the personal uSo Of
tobacco by adults7
(2) In your Judgment does the geo.
eral sentiment of your community
favor such legislatlon7
(3) Is the usa of tobacco personal
ly Objectionable TO your
No arguments accompanied the ques-
tlous and from their form 1t was i'm
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, IL Ia estimated,
represent a combined circulation Of
2l S70,046 OF the 7,S47 editors reply
Ing, 1888, or % per cent represent
public sentiment in their communities
as opposed 10 anti-tobacco legislation.
Only 2G0 editors, or per cent of
those replying believed there was any
considerable sentiment favorable to
tobacco prohibition. There were ia,
or per cent, in dogbt, 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 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
movement. Utah is the only state
which has since adopted an anti
cigarette law. The result was fore
cnst by several of the editors who
stated that the influence Of the Nor
mon Church was against tobacdJ The
Mormon Church is also strong in Idaho
which Is the other state where the US,
OF tobacco was recently prohibited
but the governor has signed the bill
| Just passed, in which the prohlbitor.
legislation is repealed. In this stat
80 per cent Of the editors estimate
sentiment In their communities n
against tobacco prohibition, which
nevertheless, is per cent below tn
average reported opposition.
''The legislature of Tennessee som
weeks ago passed and the governo
has signed n bill repeating the ant
cigarette law Of that state. The quei
tlonnaIre showed 9S per cent OF II
editors believed the public agsinl
anti-tobacco legislation The legisli
ture OF Arkansas has also passed
bin repeating its antl-cigarette law.
this state "a per cent of the oditol
reported against tobacco prohibition.
' Srixona's Practical Joke
"A bill, introduced in the currel
session of the legislature OF Arlzor
10 prohibit smoking in public dinlr
rooms and other public places. WI
first amended TO prohibit the consum
tlon In public of peanuts, chewil
gum, tea and coffee and then defest'
by the senate. The questionnsi
returns from that state were 90 D
cent mo-
"In Iowa where the nos were
, ! per cent bill to repeal the an
cigarette law has been passed a
signed by the governor.
"A bill to repeal the snti-cigsrei
, law in Kansas with SO per cent no
is receiving the attention of its leg
lature. Last year a petition for
A referendum in Oregon to prohibit I
: use Of tobacco failed Of sufficient s
natures to bring the question TO
vote, and 95 per cent of the edit,
declare their public against legislsti
a In Oklahoma an snti-cigsrette bin |
been reported unfaverably in ,
house. The editors OF that state
ported "a per cent against Its pub
support.
"0utside OF Utah. where Morn
influence predominates," the arti
concludes, "the anti-tobacco mo
ment appears, as in the case OF T
nessee. Arkansas and Iowa, to be
l. ing ground and is not to any cons
II cradle exteBt supported by the p
II ple.'
The friends Of tobacco feel part
larly elated over this showing, In
m much as 1e20-21 was maximum y
9 In legislative circles with AZ state
.. latures IN session and the tobacco s
iect received an unusual amount
consideration.
FARM JOURNAL SAYS:
To forget wrong is the best rcveu