Letter from Alva P. Jones, Superintendent, National Cigarette Law Enforcement League to President Herbert Hoover Stating that Crime is Due the Use of Cigarettes

National Cigarette Law Enforcement League Inc. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Other Director 125 W. 17th St. Phone 4-9226 Dr. Dean C. Dutton, Pres. Dr. Fred Mesch Norman, Okla. Stillwater, Okla. Dr. Wm. Forney Hovis, 1st Vico-Pres. Mr. Ed L. Klein Oklahoma City, Okla. Prof. J. R. Barton, 2rd Vice-Pres. MAY WHITE 38 THE Oklahoma City, Okla. Cong. Jed Johnson Oklahoma City, Okla. Anadarko, Okla. Judge Jas. I. Phelps, 3rd Vice-Pres. Rev. L. H. La Grone Oklahoma City, Okla. Prof. Earl P. Weston, 4th Vice Pres. r Blackwell, Okla. Prof. C. W. Gethman Comanche, Okla. Oklahoma City, Okla. Rev. Alva P. Jones, Supt. Mrs. Alice M. David Oklahoma City, Okla. Oklahoma, Okla. Mr. L. A. Coppage, Treas. Prof. Jno. S. Voughn Oklahoma City, Okla. Durant, Okla. Mr. D. N. Downing, Secy. Mr. U. M. Baughman Oklahoma City, Okla. Comanche, Okla. people Oklahoma City, Okla. Prof. Festus C. Snow, Auditor Mr. Jno. A. Simpson Oklahoma City, Okla. Gov. Wm. J. Holloway, Council. Mr. Jno. W. Heidbrink Hugo, Okla. Oklahoma City, Okla., May 25, 19..99 Oklahoma City, Okla. To The Honorable Herbert Hoover, President, United States of America, wor Washington, D. C. Dear Mr. President: I understand that while you were Secretary of the Interior you gave out a statement saying, "There is no agency in the world today that is so seriously affecting the health, education, efficiency and character of boys and girls as the cigarette habit. Nearly every delinquent is a cigarette smoker." Dr. C. L. Barber, former President of the Medico-Physical Research Association of America said, "This great wave of crime is due to the use of cigarettes and nothing else. The indiseriminate use of hooch, poison liquor, wine, Jamaica ginger and any other product that has a kick, is due to the use of cigarettes and nothing else. That, "You may legislate all the Volstead Acts, or any other acts you have a mind to, but you never will stop this wave of crime and demoralization until you stop the manufacture and sale of cigarettes." Concerning "Acrolein," one of the 20 different poisons in the smoke of a cigarette, Mr. Edison says, "Ireally believe acrolein often makes boys insane. " And Dr. Forbes Winslow says, "Cigarette smoking is one of the chief causes of insanity. In view of these and like statements, from other eminent authorities, would it not be a fine idea for your crime commission of eminent jurists to make a careful study of the bearing of cigarette smoking upon the criminal? And especially Mr. Hoover, since there are forty states of our Union which are trying to protect their fubure citizens from the cigarette evil by passing laws prohibiting the sale of cigarettes and cigarette papers to their youths? If cigarette smoking helps to produce criminals, it may be necessary to prohibit this evil before our crime wave can be ultimately solved (?) With great faith in the success of your administration, I am, Most cordially, alva P.Jones. Superintendant) National Cigarette Law Enforcement League. APJ/MS.