Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1907-03-05

Bergen company as an illustration, 1t 4
appears that after receiving per cent
interest on their shares and accumu.
lating a reserve fund equal to their
original capital, and paying to the inu-
nicipality the fees for the licenses
which the company controls, the Ber-
gen company from 1878 to 1890 had a.
surplus of $34S,655, which was distrib-
.uted, not in ways that corrupt politics
and debauch individuals, but among
objects of public utility and benefi-
Scence, such as the Bergen Forest and
Tree Planting society. Following is
the list:
Museum Of Bergen II 3 ~ $24,92
Norwegian T. A. society 23,216
Lodge of Good Templars . 81. ,715
Magdalen home ]. :. /. !, \ i 1s,721
Holiday for school children. 1880
Biological station !. !. (. !. !. /. i n. ,O72
Waiting room for workingmen 1884
Lloyd school Z. IS. Is, ,199
Why would it not be an improve
#ment on the modern license system to
give the cities and villages of Mime
sofa, where license is voted, an oppor-
tunity to adopt the company system?
No fair-minded individual can claim
that our present license system can
sustain a comparison with the regula-
tions Of the Norwegian company sys-
tenn
The Objections Considered.
Objections to the company system
come from those who will not support
any system of license, because they
are opposed to any state or municipal
restriction short of prohibitions of
the liquor traffic and to any state or
municipal income from the business.
Such are most of the prohibitionists
and most of the w. G. T. y. and Good
Templars. To such it is useless to at
tempt to prove that the system has
caused or can cause any beneicent re-
results: for no matter how convincing
the proofs, it would not alter their po-
sition. #I
Nevertheless, it is a fact that re-
form laws are an evolution rejecting
ethical standards that are not acquired
in a day; that it is prudent and neces-
sary to get the s'better,' when the
best cannot be secured; that, to
quote the words of James Russell
Lowell, THE only durable triumph of
political opinion is based not on; an
abstract right, but upon SO much Of
justice, the highest at any given mo-
ment in. human affairs, as may be had
in the balance Of mutual concession.
that it is not "sameness Of policy or a
conscientious persistency in what is
impract icable, but loyalty to great
ends, even though forced to combine
| the small and opposing motives Of
selfish men to accomplish them,
which reveals wise craftsmanship and
sound public policy. 81
The same authority says: There is
no more unsafe politician than CON
scientiously rigid doctrinaire, nothing
more sure to end in disaster than
theoretic scheme of policy that admits
OF no pliability for contingencies. The
foolish and the dead alone never
change their opinion. z
It was only because he recognized
these truths and obeyed them, SO saws
Mr.. Lowell, that Abraham Lincoln led
the north safely through the civil was
and put an end to slavery; and there
are some today who venture to think
that the bondage Of men and commune
ties to the liquor traffic will only be
sundered when the like sagacity is dis
played in the warfare with habits
which are almost as venerable as man
himself
The great problem is to determine
the limit of state authority when deal
Ing with question Of ethics and nor
atty. The thum-screw, rack and the
Ilong-handled meatax have been dis
carded as means Of making people re-
hgious and moral But there is still
danger Of going too far in calling
upon the police power Of the state to
enforce high standars OF ethics.
The purpose, means and methods of
church and state are different i
question which can never be settled
definitely is the limitation Of their re.
spectiye authorities. Let us have.
county option in Minnesota. and
where license is voted an opportunity
to try the Norwegian company system
in its best form.
# The figures and statements in this
article have been gathered from re-
liable sources with the purpose Of CALI
ing attention to this system and to en- srs
courage further investigation.
Glenwood, Mimi, Feb. 20, 1907.
Profits Of christiania samlaq.
Christiania, Norway, Feb. 6.The'
tappnI1 ~