The Anti-Smoke League

In 1964, who could have predicted that smokers would retreat to their cars to smoke? Illinois Governor Richard Ogilvie created the first Pollution Control Board in the nation in 1969.

When you are a senior in college taking a light load, you can end up doing some silly things.

I was the Chairman of the Oberlin Mock Convention in 1964.

Naturally, I wanted publicity for the only event bringing Republican speakers to campus during the four years I attended this very liberal college.

So I hung around the newspaper office.

One day, some of the staff were complaining about lack of stories to fill that day’s issue.

On the spot, I made up the “Anti-Smoke League.”

Our campus had central heating that must have been coal-fired. As we walked near the Rathskeller, there was no way to avoid the acrid order coming from the smoke stacks.

I also hated the smoke from cigarettes. I don’t know when I developed that attitude. Both of my parents smoked and I seemed to survive.

But in college it irritated me.

The Anti-Smoke League article that filled a hole on the front page of the Oberlin Review one slow news day in early 1964.

So, the Anti-Smoke League would seek an electro-static burner for the Building and Grounds smokestack.  I had priced it out with one of the administrators who was Republican, but it sounds cheap today.

And we would “stop air pollution in Oberlin at both the individual and community level.”

Who knew that a paper organization with the official office of “Poster-Putter-Upper” could enjoy so much success?


Comments

The Anti-Smoke League — 2 Comments

  1. You were a young Republican who created the Anti-smoking league. When did the confusion of youth wear off Cal?

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