San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-03-10
QUEER DOINGS IN UTAH

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As THE LIGHT has many times cb-
served. when once a principle is vio-
lated as a matter of policy the violator
may be expected to do almost any
thing crazy" in that particular field
if not in all others as well. He has
no pole-star to guide him. He is con-
stitutionally erratic, inconsistent, illogi-
cal, "flighty."
Accordingly, one need not be surprised
at the action of Utah legislators, as re-
ported in a recent dispatch from Salt
Lake City, in proposing queer amend
ment to the anti-cigarettc law of that
state. A proposal to make the statute
either more or less drastic would not
be, within itself, remarkable There are
members of the Utah Legislature who
seem to think that no violence would
be done to justice if the word Cigar
ettc' should be ordered dcletcd from
the English language. There are others
who are opposed to sumptuary leglsla-
ton in any form whatever.
But it is doubtful il in any other
state in this country such an inconsis-
tent, unreasonable, irrational proposal at
fccting tobacco users has been made by
government officials as the one reported
from Utah. The proposed amendment
would legalize the sale and the smoking
of cigarettes in that state, and to that
extent the users and manufacturers ard
retail vendors of cigarettes would be
given back the rights of which they
were bereft when the law was enacted
in its present form.
Without going into the matter any
further one might draw the quick con-
clusion that the Utah opponents OF the
sumptuary philosophy had relented, been
converted, or had realized the futility
of trying to dictate the personal habits
of every citizen. That conclusion might
contain some clement of truth. But the
entire story is by no means contained
in the statement that the amendment
would legalize the manufacture, sale
and use of cigarettes in the state of
Utah. For, although the manufacturer
could make, the dealer sell and the con-
sumner smoke any number OF cigarettes
without subjecting himself to a legal
penalty, it would be unlawful for any
of those three classes, or anybody at
all, to employ as a means OF selling
cigarettes, or any kind of tobacco in
any form. the greatest commercial ia
cility of the age-namely, advertising.
The manufacturer could not tell the
world what he was making, although
he could sell his product if anybody
should find out what it was.
The dealer could not solicit patronage
except by saying, in substance: 81 am
in business; l am not permitted to tell
you what l have for sale, but Id apprc-
ciate your trade"
The tobacco user would have to do 4
lot Of shopping to ascertain who Carried
the particular brand of cigarettes. cigars,
pipe tobacco or chewing" that he pre-
fcrred, or else every dealc- would have
10 carry every brand meda.
Apparently the object OF the measure
is to minimize the consumption o! to-
bacco; but what haphazard, hit-or-
miss way of undertaking such task
Although tie amendment would prob
ably be declared unconstitutional, on the
ground that it would hinder men from
making living in an occupation rccog-
nizcd by the state rs legitimate, it Is
worthy of Study as an example I'll the
irrational ideas of which some human
beings i'll this supposedly enlightened
age are capable.