Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-10-09
!OUTsIDE POINT OF VIEW.

Written for the Tines Republican.

Written for tho Times Republican.
From time to time in this column has
been reference made to the Gothenburg
scheme, and as asserted by the writer,
it is the most successful of all of the
plans for the management and control
Of the liquor traffic. Those who have
been reading the William E. Curtis let
tiers from Sweden have read his letter on
the liquor traffic there. This and a sue
ceeding article will be made up almost
entirely from that letter, and In giving II
to the readers of an Iowa daily the
writer starts with the assertion that lie
believes the people of Iowa are more In
earnest than any other state In attempt
ing to lessen an admitted evil. Those OF
US who believe in the good work of ths
present mulct law do not receive the
Charitable consideration from the aver
age prohibitionist that the writer he
speaks for Mr.. Curtis, who is everys
where known as conservative writer.
Who does not jump at conclusions, anl
one especially accurate when he deals
in figures. as he does in this letter.
He says:
1.-THE so-called Gothenburg system Of
regulating the liquor traffic, which pre-
walls in Sweden and with some modifi-
cations in Norway and Finland, is based
upon the theory that the evil of intern
I rerance can not be entirely eradicated.
but can be reduced to a minimum by
practical regulations. 1t does not at
tempt to prevent the use of intoxicating
liquors, but to prevent the abuse of
them.
The fundamental lawsof Sweden per-
mits local option in dealing with the liq-
uor traffic by the votes of the people.
including women taxpayers, and four
of the provinces of the kingdom are en-
tirely without saloons. The Gothenburg
system has been adopted by eighty
inequalities. The remaining nine either
prohibit the liquor traffic entirely or Ii
cense private dealers. In the country
districts the sale of liquors is generally
prohibited, but people who are In the
habit of drinking obtain supplies from
the agents of the Gothenburg system in
the neighboring towns One can get
beer everywhere. 1t is the common drink
of the people, and Its use is growing
more and more general. In 1850 the an.
nual consumption of beer was about
100000 hectoliters. AT present it reach;
es 100000 hectoliters the population
having increased about % per cent in
the meantime. III 1850 the average con-i
sumption of beer per capita was about
ten liters Now it is about twenty-eight
i!ters. The Swedish beer is very light
and contains low percentage of alec
hol.
1.-THE results of the adoption of the
Gothenburg system are seen in every
direction and appear in every table oil
social statistics, not only IN the decrease
of the consumption of Intoxicating lid
rors, but In the decrease in drunkenness
poverty and crime. There is no ques !
ton, and the prohibitionists do not deny
ii, that the system has been practica
and beneficial, so far as 1t goes, but they
object to II for several reasons. :s
The preceding paragraph, containina.
the sentence that the Gothenburg
scheme us based upon the theory tha:'
the evil of intemperance can not be en-
tirely eradlcated," etc.. is especially
lcommended.to conservative prohibition
lists. What follows Is equally interest
Ing to quite large number OF our citi-