Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1907-09-12
NEWS OF SCANDINAVIA.
Recent Occurrences of Interest
in Sweden, Norway and
Denmark.
CONGRESS AGAINST ALCOHOL
Significant Use OF q Word by Prince
Gustave Adolf in Addressing
Delegates.
SWEDEN.
Stockholm.


The most interesting point in con-
nection with the eleventh international
congress against alcoholism, which
was held in Stockholm with a demon
stration of temperance societies, and
brought together representatives Of
seventeen countries, does not appear
in the official program at all, thougA
II is none the less vital to the char
acter, and especially to the future. Of
these biennial gatherings. Prince
Gustav Adolf, grandson of the king
when opening the formal business of
the congress summed up the original
and primary purposes thereof when
he said that ito fight against the mis-
use OF alcohol was one of the most
Important social questions of the day"
Here the word of special Specification
is misuse" Strictly speaking, the
international congress does not, or
should not, seek to restrict reason
able use" of alcohol, and in the in
PRODUCTION of this years program ref
ercnces are made to "the great and
important science of alcohology,' to
alcoholism" and to 1.-The alcoholic
problem all of which phrases seem
to suggest the idea of actual social or
physical evils. and the cure thereof,
abstentlon, irrespective of wheth-
er the individual is an actual victim
TO alcoholism" or not. Thus the con-
gross should not be regarded from the
same standpoint as national con-
ference Of total abstinence societies,
and its primary object must appeal
to the sympathies Of much wider
class Of the community. To under
stand the position Alright, however,
one must bear in mind that the larger
proportion OF the temperance socie-
ties on the continent Of Europe with
which the international congress has
hitherto been mainly assocated are
based on principles differing essential
" from those OF the teetotal temper
ance societies Of the United States. In
Scandinavia the leaders Of the tenn
perance movement. anxious IN the
early DAYS thereof to wean the people
from spirit-drinking. which was the
curse Of these countries, agreed to
recognize the consumption Of light
beer, and in Denmark. about the year
1894. the brewers were even asked by
some Of the temperance societies II
they could not produce beer Of prac-
tically Notwithstanding qualities,
which would have bettsr keeping quail
tiles than the so-called white beer"
ro.,,Ior Tn that onnpfru vopop-a
tons past. This white beer, made by
the top fermentation process, was a
very unsatisfactory production, readi-
ly turning sour, but IL was not until
1902 that there was finally produced
in Copenhagen by the bottom fer
beer, which readily answered the de-
sired requirements. Since then one
brewery firm alone In the city has in
creased it's output Of this Temperance
beer" to 10000 barrels the year-a
figure not inconsiderable in view OF
the fact that the total population OF
Denmark Is only 100000, and that
there are in the country no fewer
than 800 breweries producing duty
free" beer chat is, beer having less
than pa per cent weight of alcohol,
equal to about per cent OF proof
SPIRIT. In Sweden the legal limit Of
alcohol for duty free" beer is 2H
per cent. in volume mot weight, as in
Denmark with per cent of extract.
though brewers who produce not only
'svagdricka." as such beer is mostly
called, but beers above the said limit,
have to pay duty on their total con-
sumption of malt In the breweries
where the two varieties are pro-
duced.
Prince Wilhelm's reception In this
country Ia something which cannot
fail to crafty the Swedish people I'm
mensely. His democratic ways and
his manly bearing speaks well for this
young prince and his hospitable re-
ception here can not fail but crafty
his father. the Crownprince Gustaf,
and his grandfather. the aged king.
who will receive his grandson with
open arms when he returns to Stock
holm. The Fylgia's visit has been tho
everyday topic In the American press
for a fortnight or more and Americans
will now, irrespective Of nationality,
want to follow the career Of this in
teresting young prince who proved a
record breaker as sightseer and
who spoke in such glowing terms
anent the American people and our in
situations generally. When the young
prince returns to Stockholm he will
be given rousing reception, for now
the Swedish people are prouder of
him than ever before.
According to recent statistics Swe-
den's population is gradually increas-
ing. This. however cannot be direct
~ traced to any work Of the national
bureau Of immigration, which has been
organized for the purpose of inducing
Swedish-Americans to return to Swe-
den. The statisticlans claim that
Sweden's population during the past
years has increased about 10000 and
was at the end OF the year 5,260,Sl1.
The number OF births have not in
creased very materially, but immigrn-
ton to foreign countries has decreased
perceptably. Emigration from other
countries has on the other hand In