, 1922-11-30
TOBACCO'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 to Adopt Prohlbl-
tion Measure During Year.

Auueu 10 the Oelt OF the prOhiD1tiOnlst
beside that of the lamented but as
yet not altogether late alcohol" is
the question asked by. Carrot 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 q-uestlonnalres on the
subject sent out to newspaper editors
of the country by the Press Service
Company of New York City.
The questions asked were:
0) 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?
go Is the use of tobacco PERSONAL
ly Objectionable to you?
No arguments accompanied the ques-
lions and from their form it was inns
possible for any editor to deteruhn@
the attitude OF the q~uestioners.
out of 12,518 editors questloncjs
7,S47 replied according to the summary
given. These editors, it is estimated,
represent a combined circulation of
2~1,ST0,046. OF the 7,S47 editors reply
ing, 1888, or 90 per cent. represent
public sentiment in their communities
MS opposed to antl-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 . per cent, in doubt, while 20 failed
TO record their judgment.
/ Editors Judgment Unbiased
"It 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.
1.-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 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 obacco was recently prohibited,
but the governor has signed the bill
Just passed, In which the prohlbitory
Legislation Is repealed. In this state
50 per cent of the editors estimate
sentiment In their communities MS
against tobacco prohibition, which,
nevertheless, is 6 per cent below the
average reported opposition. q
""The Legislature OF Tennessee some
weeks ago passed and the governor
has signed n bill repeating the anti
cigarette law OF that state. The ques-
tionnnire showed 90 per rent Of its
editors believed the public against
anti-tobacco legislation. The legisla-
ture OF Arkansas has also passed al
bill repeating its anti-clgarette law. In
this state "a per cent OF the editors
reported against tobacco prohibition.
ArIzons's Practical Joke
"A bill. introduced in the current
session OF the legislature Of Arizona
to prohibit smoking I'm 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 02 per
cent no
"In Iowa where the nos were 95
per cent n bill to repeal the anti
cigarette law has been passed and
signed by the governor.
"A bill to repeal the nnti-cigarette
law in Kausns. with 80 per cent nos.
is receiving the attention Of It's legIs.
lnture. Last yenr n petition for a
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 hntl-cigurette bin has
been reported unfnvprahly in the
house. The editors of that state re-
ported~p4 per cent against it's public
support.
"Outslde 81 Utah. where Mormon
Influence predomlnntes,' the article
concludes, "the antl-tobacco move
ment appears, MS IN the case OF Ten
nessee, Arkansas aud Iowa. to be los.
Ing ground and is not Ia my consld-
cradle extent supported by the PEG.
- p