1. The cigarette hazard and many cigarette effects (though not all) were already then known. 2. Even the problem of adulteration by coumarin was already known. 3. The common law "right to fresh and pure air" already existed (since at least the year 1306). 4. Iowans saw that due to rampant violations of that common law right by smokers, that right needed to be institutionalized / buttressed / reinforced via statutory law. 5. That era still had the Blackstonian-common-law concept that government can neither violate rights, nor allow others to do so.
People of the 1890's were educated, so knew these effects, they were better educated than now.
Nowadays, due to media advertising and media censorship, most people don't know (are obstructed from learning) these basics about tobacco, i.e., its role in "moral" effects including but not limited to: despite much of such data being extant medically— back then, even, already a long time! They knew then to do prevention. They knew that pro-active prevention is wise; after-the-factism, reactive-ism, is backwards and benighted. They did not have the backward modern notion of "educating" how "how to quit" or "why to quit." They in 1897 believed in prevention of starting in the first place. They in 1897 believed in preventing the effects before they became so severe as to have the backward issue of maybe "quitting" even becoming an issue in the first place. Pro-active prevention is wise; after-the-factism, reactive-ism, is backwards and benighted. |
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(Not to mention, |
"Public health is the foundation on which reposes the happiness of the people and the power of a country. The care of the public health is the first duty of a statesman."—Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881). |
Iowans' concern about tobacco pushers deliberately hooking children on cigarettes was well-founded. Tobacco company intent and action when unrestrained is shown by this example of smoking—30% of 6 year old boys; 50% of "boys between 9 and 10"; 88% of boys over 11, reported by Prof. W. E. Dixon, On Tobacco, 17 Canadian Med Ass'n J 1531 (Dec 1927). Likewise, Ohioans and Chicagoans were expressing similar concerns.
Tobacco pushers wanting to turn nonsmoker children into tobacco addicts well know that: "The first step toward addiction may be as innocent as a boy's puff on a cigarette in an alleyway," said the U.S. Supreme Court in Robinson v California, 370 US 660, 670; 82 S Ct 1417; 8 L Ed 2d 758 (1962). Professional analysts recognize that adult smokers would typically not be smoking if they had not been illegally solicited or obtained while they were children. See the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rule entitled "Regulations Restricting the Sale and Distribution of Cigarettes and Smokeless Tobacco to Protect Children and Adolescents." 61 Fed Reg 44,396 (28 Aug 1996) (resulting rule codified at 21 CFR § 801, et al.). The FDA found that "cigarette and smokeless tobacco use begins almost exclusively in childhood and adolescence." 61 Fed Reg 45239. Minors are particularly vulnerable to Madison Avenue's exhortations, plastered on racing cars and outfield fences, to be cool and smoke, be manly and chew, and the FDA found "compelling evidence that promotional campaigns can be extremely effective in attracting young people to tobacco products." Id. at 45247. This initial element of illegality renders subsequent cigarette manufacturing and sales illegal, as Iowans correctly recognized. |
Examples of References: The Smoking-Crime-Connection
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Note that 1897 Iowans avoided the modern error of focusing solely on children! See Stanton Glantz, PhD, "Preventing Tobacco Use—The Youth Access Trap," 86 Am J Public Health (#2) 157 (Feb 1996) (article on the error of dealing solely with protecting youth). The 'youth focus' is indeed a major error. That approach leaves spouses (due to lung cancer), co-workers (due to smoking-on-the-job), infants (due to SIDS), the unborn (due to abortion), and the public-at-large (due to alcoholism, drugs, and crime), denied protection. Iowans knew to avoid the 'youth access trap,'
Advisory: Treat pretended 'nonsmoker advocates' who insist on the 'protecting the kids' focus as THE issue, as tobacco lobbyists. Treat pretended 'nonsmoker advocates' who insist on limiting the issue by excluding tobacco's "moral" effects as tobacco lobbyists. Treat pretended 'nonsmoker advocates' who insist on excluding the FULL range of solution, e.g., anti-poisoning and anti-murder laws and precedents, as tobacco lobbyists. Treat pretended 'nonsmoker advocates' who thus reveal themselves as money-motivated not wanting to END the tobacco holocaust but to continue it throughout their career by 'pulling their punches,' for their own careerist purposes, as tobacco lobbyists. |
Due to the 90% cigarette role in crime, Judge Leroy B. Crane recommended, "Congress should stop the manufacture, sale, and importation of cigarettes."—Quoted by Prof. Bruce Fink, Tobacco (Cincinnati: Abingdon Press, 1915), p 19. |
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U.S. senators' addresses are available from http://www.senate.gov; and representatives' addresses, at http://www.house.gov. |
Sample Language
Please support adoption of a law that
"forbids . . . the manufacture, sale, exchange, or disposition of cigarettes or cigarette paper." Iowa did this in 1897, details at https://medicolegal.tripod.com/iowalaw1897.htm. Such a law will help prevent the full range of tobacco effects, known and unknown, thus save lives. Iowa residents, please contact your governor, senators, and representatives, asking that the 1897 law be re-introduced and re-passed. And In Interim, Include in All Zoning and Business Licenses, Requirement to Comply With All Pertinent Laws, Including Pure Air Rights, Safe Product Duty, and No Murder |
"Tobacco Free Iowa" continues the life-saving work for smoke-free air. It may be contacted at (515) 253-0147 or (800) 688-0147. |
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