Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1906-01-28
CIVIC LEAGUERS
HEAR TWO SIDES
G0THENBURG SYSTEM IS
DEBATED
Telling Points Made for and Against
Saloon systen--Speelal Elec-
ton Seems Likely, sigma
lures PIing Up

The Gothenburg system was discussed
last evening between william Meade
on the affirmative and ]. Wyley Phil
lips on the negative. The discussion
which was held in Blanchard hail. was
under the auspices Of the Civic league,
J. w. Kemp, the president. presiding.
Mr.. Kemp explained that the league
wished to hear plain statements on
both sides or the question, for the good
of the city. He introduced Mr.. Meade,
who spoke I'm favor of the Gothenburg
system as conducted In Sweden and
applying 1t to local interests. He dwelt
upon the advantages of the seventy
saloons proposed under the Gothenburg
system, over the 200 saloons, in this city,
saying that the decrease of drunkenness
was about fifty per cent in the foreign
cities where the system had been thor
oughly tested.
He made the point that the saloon
zone would be lessened and the busi-
ness conducted in the business section
made compact instead of being scat
tered broadcast over the city as at
present.
Percentage Advantageous
one great noint of Mr.. Meade's
argument was that while the
saloons would be largely reduced in
numbers. the purity of the liquors
would supersede the present condition
of intoxicants now sold in the saloons,
and that the six per cent turned over
TO the city under the proposed system,
would be an advantage.
Mr. Phillips argued that he did not
believe in saloons under any circum-
stances, but upheld the lower class
rather than the so-called respectable
saloons and the gilded places of vice
in restaurants and hotels. He stated
that 1t would be better to have the
intoxicated person get over the effects
rather than have the better looking
places to entice the young people. Mr..
Phillips did not see any material adj
vantage in the smaller number of sa-
looms, as the number of restaurants and
hotel licenses would be increased, maxi
ing more than the present number of
saloons.
The speaker quoted statistics show
ing that drunkenness was increased in
Sweden under the Gothenburg system,
TO which Mr.: Meade took exceptions,
stating that they were not correct
In closing the argument Mr.. Meade
cited Cambridge Mass, a prohibition
place, where there had been 40 per
cent increase of drunkenness since the
prohibition laws were enforced.
Special Election
With reference to the movement for
a special election the Gothenburg COM
mittee has 1400 signatures to it's petit
ton in excess of the charter require
ments. The committee will not SUBJ
nit the petition to the city council I'M
til the case involving the validity of
the initiative provision of the city char
ter has been passed on by the supreme
court.
The committee has canvassed 1ot out
of the total 1879 city precincts. The re-
manning 80 precincts were not cam
vassed, as the signatures already OBJ
tanned were in excess Of the require
mentS.
A total of 1899 voters were inter
viewed. of whom $500 signed the petit
ton There were S102 who did not sign
the petition and who expressed their in
tention of voting for the ordinance; also
bO6S expressed themselves as opposed to
the ordinance and 350S had not de-
terrnined how to vote, many of whom
desired more information about the
plan.
After making liberal allowance for
an adverse vote in the SO precincts not
canvassed, the committee thinks there
would be substantial majority for
the ordinance.
Between now and the time the Sill
preme court renders it's decision II is
the intention of the committee to ex-
tend and perfect its organization,