Smoke-Crusade

Only three years ago, U. S. tobacco advertisers felt that, though every one knew women were smoking, to allow a woman in the unholy precincts of a cigaret advertisement would be to affront U. S. womanhood. But tobacco competition grew hot. One by one the cigaret-makers began introducing women in their advertisements. At first it was just a woman's arm and hand holding a cigaret (Marlboro). Then it was women present, though not smoking, at smoking bouts. When a Chesterfield advertisement appeared in which an entrancing female was made to say, "Blow some my way," it seemed the peak in risque outspokenness had been attained. But now the landscape is plastered, advertising sections of magazines and newspapers are fat, with advertisements of women and girls smoking cigarets with utmost abandon.

Last week 200 Christian women of Colorado Springs decided that affronts to U. S. womanhood had gone too far. They sent a petition to the city council, saying:

"We, the undersigned Christian women, protest use of those advertisements which show use of tobacco in any way by women and girls and children. These advertisements have been on display too long. No one can tell what harm has been done. . . .

These displays are undermining the very heart of our civilization. Let us save our boys and girls!" The council voted an ordinance. It affects only billboard advertising, but U. S. cigaret advertisers, remembering the famed Kansas anti-cigaret-advertisement statute, still unrepealed though not enforced, pricked up their ears, wondered if the Colorado crusade would spread. In marked contrast to the Christian Women of Colorado Springs is "a prominent New York society woman," a Mrs. Frank C. Henderson, who last week released pictures of herself smoking a pipe.