AMERICAN REFORMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 October 1921, Page 3

AMERICAN REFORMS.

NEW NAME FOR SMOKES. SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 6. Cigarettes, the "white serpents” of American life, must he scotched. The women of America and Kiris ot America must not smoke (-it'llrettes. The Women’s Christian Tem|>enuiee Union of the United States will continue its battle againXt the iikreasinn habit of smoking ninolip women by means of an educational cahipiiit'n that not only will point out the evils (if the (it'llrotte, but will embrace a nationwide eampaittn for the strict enforcement of laws fnrbiddint’ the sale of tobacco products to minors. Such was the sense of a resolution unanimously adopted by delegates to the fortycitrhth annual 4-onvciition of _ the \Yonien’s Christian Tein|>ei-ance Union of America, meeting in San I'raneiseo. The resolution was adopted alter a sharp speech hy Miss Helen (*. H. Estelle, of New York, sii|K.>rintendcnt of the anti-narcotics department of tb' National W.C.T.U. "Nicotine is only one of the eighteen poisons in tlm ciy.iiret tc of to-day," Miss l-.stello said, ••but it is the most injurious. If all the. cigarettes that are smoked in the United States in one day were placed end to end in a straight line, they would reach front the Golden Gate of San Francisco to Portland. Maine, ami 300 miles back on the return journey. Such is the trail of the Inn** white serpent. and we must he up and iloiny it wo are to scotch the serpent.

"The lon** white serpent lines not include ‘roll \'our own,’ either. Government reports show that taxes are hoioy paid on .">3,000,(101) cigarettes every year. We cannot too emphatically stress the physical barm which cigarette smoking is doing among women. Especially is this the case with reference to High School girls.” The resolution as passed by the San Francisco convention read:— "Whereas the W.C.T.U. was largely instiomental in securing laws in every Stale which requires the teaching *>l physiology and hygiene with special reference to the oflect of alcohol and other narcotics, and had for forty years maintained a department ot anti-nar-cotics: and, whereas, it is widely acknowledged by scientists, physicians, and educators Unit the use of tobacco is injurious, therefore be it resolved, that the National W.C.T.U. encourage further scientific lesonreli into the effects of nicotine, and urge all public ami private school touchers s ']"" day school workers to assist in all educjitioiml eiiinpjiigtl to tnnko tlu*so <*noetK known, with a view to instructing the youth as to the well-proved facts ol science ; and be it further resolved that we continue our educational eampttigu that we urge the strict enforcement of the laws forbidding the sale ol tobacco products to minors; that we continue to protest against untruthful am mislcailing advertisements, ami against tbe increased habit .if smoking among vouuml.’’ .