The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-10-17
Finnish Investigators Make Stop
in Topeka.
They Visit Places Where Liquor
Is Sold.
SAYS LAW is FAILURE.
viii Try to Prove IuefIlcacy of
Prohibition.
Also Took a Glimpse at Situa-
ton in Malne.
SAYS Law is FAILURE

Prohibitory laws in this country do
not prohibit, or rather, do not prevent
the Dromiscuous sale of liquor. This
is the opinion of Bjorn Schauman and
Allan zilliacus. representative men of
the conservative element in Finland,
who are in Topeka for a brief visit dur
ing their tour of the United States for
the purpose of investigating the traffic
in liquors in the various states so that
they can report to their home govern
ment how the variety OF laws on the
liquor question work in this country.
They are paying particular attention
10 the states where prohibltory, or
quasi prOhibitOry laws, such as local
option, prevail. And they believe that
best conditions maintain where liquor
traffic is legalized and controlled by
the government.
Naturally their journey brought
them to Kansas, whose flag of liquor
prohibition has been flung to the
breeze for the last twenty years. To-
peka was their first stop in Kansas.
They have toured through Maine, the
banner prohibition state in the east.
They have gone through Vermont, an
ultra prohibition state until a few
years ago, when a local option law was
placed on the statute books. and in
these places they have found that
prohibition" is only a. mere word And
a couple of hours. less than that in
fact, which they spent last night in
visiting all the many varieties OF
Joints in this city, convinced them,
according to their own words, that
prohibition does not prohibit, even
in Kansas
During their trip through some of
the specimen drinking establishments
in this city they visited an ordinary
beer hall where a man who calls for
red liquor" is frowned upon; an up
stairs barrOom with billiard hall facili-
ties a drug store of the masquerade
variety where one can have cocktail
mixed; one of those famous clubs that
are open to all, with its elaborate bar
and 1unchroOm, and barroom when
is easily accessible from hotel in fact
a part of it.
And after this trip Mr.. Schauman,
and his words were echoed by Mr.. Ill
Iiacus, who said: Eve are more than
convinced that prohibition does not pro-
hibit but the conditions we have found
here tonight are about the same. No
worse than those we have found in
other prohibitory states When they
were told that there were several cities
in the state, such as Leavenworth,
Atchison and Wichita, where there are
as wide open saloons as could be found
many license state. Mr.. Schauman re-
piled that he and his friend had found
the same conditions in Maine In Port
land and OIneT Clues lilCN 4Ad0 ~ AAAAO
LIQUOR in Kitchen bars" but in Bangor
they found wide open saloons. So they
found it in Vermont under local option
conditions In the capital city, Mont
pelier. where no license prevails. they
had no trouble in finding places where
liquor could be obtained.
I'VE had one funny experience in
Maine" said Mr.. Zilliacus. "A sheriff
took us around to what he called the
low down joints. and some of the
IN, f1.ar ifz
because we had not been shown the
high toned places. They thought we
might get a bad impression of the
town. they said. And mind you, this
was in prohibition Maine.
Mr. Schauman and Mr.. Zilliacus
represent, as stated the conservative
element in Finland. Under the new
conditions Finland has representa-
tive democratic parliament next year
and the people believe that this parl1a-
ment Will attempt to enact many laws
at variance with existing ones. There
is quite a sentiment developing among
reformers in the country for the adOp-
ton of a prohibitory law. In view Of
that fact representative men on both
sides of the liquor question have been
sent to this country to Investigate the
conditions in the various states where
prohibition and license prevails Mr..
Schaumans and Mr.. Zilliacus represent
the conservative class of the Finnish
people who desire their present liquor
laws to stand. These laws are on
what is known as the Gothenberg
plan. company is licensed to carry
on the liquor business in each par
tieular community. This company
operates all the drinking places in its
particular locality. and all over six per
cent profit that the company makes on
its Investment and business is turned
over in proportions to the community
and the state
Because of their Investigations so
far in this country. and they intend to
continue them all the way to the Pa
cifc coast. Mr.. Schauman and Mr..
ZiIlfacus say that they have facts and
figures to prove that prohibitory laws
as they exist in this country are mis-
nomers. That they do not prohibit
the sale of liquor and that it is far bet
ter to have the liquor traffic recognized
ard controlled by state
AS a matter of fact" said Mr..
Schauman, Il never drank so much
liquor in my life as I have in your
prohibition states. OF course it has
been necessary for me and my friend
to drink in all these prohibition places
so that we could find out how easy it
was to obtain liquor in them. Your
prohibitory laws might be good things
If they we're enforced. but we have
found that your DeoDle are unable to-