The patriot. (Glenmora, La.) 1918-1955, 1921-06-03
TOBACCO'S FOES
LOSING GROUND
Canvass Of 7,s47 Editors Shows
1888 Communities Against
AboIiShing Weed.
ANTS LOSE THREE STATES.
Utah, vnder Mormon Influence, Only
CoDtnonwealth to Adopt Prohibits
- ton Measure During Year.

the question asked by Garret Smith
In all article in the current issue Of
Ieslie'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:
ID Do you favor the enactment Of
laws prohibiting the personal use Of
. tobacco by adults?
(2) In your judgment does the gen.
eral sentiment Of your community
favor such legislation?
CD 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 12,518 editors questioned,
f,847 replied according to the summary
given. These editors, il is estimated,
represent combined circulation Of
91,S70O46. OF the 7,S47 editors reply
ing, 1893, or 80 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 1T4,
or per cent, in doubt, while 20 failed
10 record their judgment.
Editors, Judgment Unbiased
at is Of; special interest to note
that 564 editors in answering the first
question. personally favored such
legislation, although only 260 of them
reported that public opinion also IA
vnred the prohibition of tobacco-an
Indication OF the conscientious effort
made by the editors to distinguish pub,
tic .Opinion from their own personal
opIfIops.s the article continues. =" -
The highest percentage Of replies
reporting public opinion favorable to
prohibition OF tobacco came from Utah,
where ~ 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 prohibit0ry
legislation Is repealed. In this state
81 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.
"The legislature Of Tennessee some
weeks ago passed and the governor
has signed a bin repeating the anti
cigarette law OF that state. The ques-
tionnaire showed o3 per cent OF its
editors believed. the public against
anfi-tobacco legislation. The legisla-
ture of Arkansas has also passed a
bill repeating its anti-cigarette law. In
this state 81 per cent of the editors
reported against tobacco prohibition.
Arixona's Practical Joke
"A bill, introduced ia 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 questionnaire
returns from that state were. 90 per,
cent no. @ rt.
I'm Iowa where the nos were 05
per cent a .bii 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 80 per cent nos
1is receiving the attention of~its legis-
IatuTe. Last year a petition for a
refefendyns. in Oregon to prohibit the.
use OF tobacco failed OF sufficient sig
natures to bring the question to a
vote, and 95 per cent of the editors
declare their public against legislation.
In Oklahoma an anti-elgarette bin has
sheen reported unfavorahly in the
horse. The editors of that state re-
ported 9& per cent against its public
support.
"Outside of Utah, where Mormon
influence predorninates." the. article
concludes, "the anti-tobaceo move
ment appears, as in the case of Ten
nesaee, Arkansas and Iowa, TO be los
ing ground and is not to any consld-
cradle extent supported by the peo-
ple" -
The friends of tobacco feel particu-
larry elatetIs over this showing. mas
much as 193o-21 was maximum year
In Iegislative circles with 70 state leg
Iafures in session and the tobacco sub
ject received an unusual amount Of
consideration.