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Editors Table

Enforce the Cigarette Law

Violators of the anti-cigarette law in Salt Lake City are reported to have received, recently, a warning from the Chief of Police that the illegal sale of cigarettes must cease. Many such violations have been called to the attention of the authorities by various organizations. The local Social Welfare League, with Dean Milton Bennion, of the University of Utah, as president, has instituted an active educational campaign to counteract the tendency to show contempt for law, which has arisen from the violation of the anti-cigarette act. The growing tendency to disregard law is a vital question. All loyal citizens have a duty to perform, in adding their influence to put a stop to the leaning in this direction. The peace officers often voice the sentiment that the public is not behind the law. This is not true, if we take for evidence the expression of the public before the law was passed. We believe the great majority of Utah citizens are against the cigarette, and for the law. Let us show how we stand by expressing our sentiments through petitions to the officers and by resolutions in public gatherings, speeches, and in public and private declarations asking to have the law enforced. Some organizations have already done so. Tell them you are with them, and give them your aid for the enforcement of the law.

The General Board Y. M. M. I. A. have unitedly declared themselves as follows, let the M. I. A. organizations throughout the state pass similar resolutions:

At the June convention, 1920, the M. I. Associations adopted as their slogan, "We stand for the non-use and non-sale of tobacco." The Fourteenth Session of the Legislature of the State of Utah placed upon our statute books the anti-cigarette law. This law in many places is being flagrantly violated, and the big question now before us, with reference to it, is, "What are we going to do about it?"

One of our articles of faith contains this provision, "We believe in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law." Our slogan for this year is, "We stand for loyal citizenship." The principle involved in the article of faith and the slogan are sufficiently broad to form a suitable platform upon which all loyal citizens can stand. With such a splendid platform, should we falter for one moment in doing everything in reason, within our power, to give effect to such a law?

The law is now the law of every citizen of the state, and is entitled to the support of every citizen of the state, irrespective of what his personal views may be with reference to it. It is the bounden duty of every officer of the state, county, city, and town, to see that the law is obeyed and enforced.

We recommend that the officers of our associations immediately take up the matter of the enforcement of this law, and work out ways and means of bringing about its enforcement. To accomplish this purpose better, we suggest that a committee be appointed in each stake and ward to follow up the matter, during this season, that they enlist the support of the other auxiliary organizations of the Church as well as other organizations that may be interested, and that they take that matter up with city commissioners, mayors of towns and cities, city and county attorneys, police officers, and sheriffs, with a view of interesting them in, and assisting them with, the enforcement of the law.