Decatur City Council President Billy Jackson should not have interrupted what appeared to be a peaceful protest at Monday's council meeting. But under the circumstances, Mr. Jackson reacted about the way anyone would who has been subjected to such a relentless and vitriolic protest.

Four smoking-ban protesters showed up for the meeting with cardboard signs asking the council to rescind the two-week-old smoking ban. Mr. Jackson gave them a choice of discarding their signs or leaving. They left.

Naturally, a dispute arose over how the four displayed their signs. Mr. Jackson said they were a distraction and blocked the view of other people attending the meeting.

If theirs was a silent, peaceful protest, the city should have allowed them to keep their signs.Their ouster is more fodder for the one-sided debate that shows no sign of dying.

Protesters repeatedly threaten to oust the incumbents who voted in the smoking ban. But they lack public support to do that. Most people are delighted that the smoke is gone from public buildings.

Jerry O'Regan, who owns O'Regan's Irish Pub in Montreal, sent along this e-mail for those who worry about financial loss:

"I worked behind the bar for 15 years.... My lungs are finished ... I can't walk up a flight of stairs. ... However, the no-smoking ban has helped a lot. ... The wife is not complaining about the smelly clothes. ... And the pub is full again ..."

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