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LET FREEDOM RING

Republicans convene in smoke-free New York, but they don’t have to like it

Los Angeles, August 31 – New York is one of the world’s great cities, but it’s a little light on freedom. Just ask Republicans gathered for this week’s Republican National Convention.

“How can you have a convention without a smoke-filled room?” asked California delegate Tim Morgan of reporter Ralph Hallow of The Washington Times.

And Pennsylvania delegate Charlie Genow told The Times, “I don’t like smoking bans. I’m a guy who believes in freedom. Doesn’t every civilized person enjoy Cognac with a good cigar after dinner? I miss that here.”

Now you know why they call it the Republican “Party.” Works for me.

There is some heavy smoking going on in New York, however, with Club Macanudo reported to be rented for the entire Convention period for private parties.

Comment:
It’s good to see some objections to the current anti-tobacco wave sweeping the country. Although most of the vitriol is aimed at cigarettes, cigar and pipe smokers are too often caught in the same net.

Most cigar smokers aren’t much interested in offending their neighbors and the time is coming for more choices for smokers. The sensible solution – and one which is discussed more and more openly – is to let the market decide what restaurants and bars wish to allow smoking.

Let those restaurants, bars and other business who wish to permit smoking inside do so. Signs should be posted with large type declaring that this is a “smoke-permitted” establishment and those who enter do to at their own risk. The State of California has a similar signage requirement that places placards on many buildings stating that dangerous chemicals of some type are used within.

The number of such businesses will be small on a percentage basis, but it allows those who wish to smoke to do without being hassled. In the “land of the free,” it’s a concept which should merit wide consideration.

Back to the Future?
With the possibility that the Congress could give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration significant authority over tobacco products – including cigars – could nicotine-reduced cigars be on the horizon?

They wouldn’t be new.

A 1940 catalog from Chicago’s W.F. Monroe & Company, a leading cigar store chain in the Windy City that started in the 19th Century, showcased Cuban-made H. Upmann and Partagas brands along with U.S.-made Clear Havana brands such as Perfecto Garcia, Perla del Mar and Eden.

Then there is Sano, pictured above from the catalog.

To quote the catalog exactly, “The wide acceptance which Sano cigars enjoy is due to the non-chemical process employed to remove the bulk of nicotine from their fine, long Havana filler. With their mildness and perfect blending preserved, they offer a delicate bouquet and aroma that is enjoyable.”

The box caption notes that the brand is “De-Nicotinized to less than 1% Nicotine.” Monroe offered it in four shapes from 4 7/8 to 5 1/2 inches long in both straight-sized and torpedo styles. At least it was cheap: a box of 25 cost $2.88 in 1940 compared to $7.00 for the same shape in the H. Upmann or Partagas lines.

The U.S. Patent & Trademark Office shows the Sano trademark for cigars as “dead.” The brand was apparently started in 1925 and was registered in December 1926 by a fellow named Max Simpson, doing business as the Health Cigar Corporation in New York.

Anyone interested?
~ Rich Perelman

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