The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-03-13

Oy j. Gan6l, Formerly OF Grand Forks
but now of Portland, Oregon. The
A. D. T. society winning which won
unanimously retains the medal for
another year, when they propose a
question to be debated, and must
again defend their right to further
retain the medal, allowing the Adel-
phi to choose which side they wish
to defend.
This year the question proposed by
the A. D. T. society was: Resolved,
That law prohibiting the manufac-
ture and sale of intoxicating liquors
as beverage is preferable to a law
based on the GOthenburg system of
state control.
Miss Lyons Opens Debate.
Miss Lyons, first speaker for the
affirmative, in perfectly clear and self
possessed manner defined the issue
at hand. She declared that prohibi-
ton and not regulation is what we
want. The Gothenburg system of
state control aims at regulation only.
Regulation has failed in Sweden, in
South Carolina and in Georgia, and
wherever it has been tried.
Merely q Monopoly.
The Gothenburg system originated
in Gothenburg, Sweden in 1865. 1t
is merely a monopoly granted to
private company, allowing it to dis
pose of liquor in manner prescribed
by law. ut differs only from a we'll
regulated saloon" declared Miss Lyons,
Gin that it is subject to a greater de-
gree Of moral CONTROL"
Any attempt to merely regulate will
not kill the liquor evil.
Miss Lyons proved by figures that
(I more liquor was sold in Gothen-
burg after the adoption of the sys-
tenn. (2) There was more drunken
ness. (3) There was increased pau
perism. Miss Lyons declared that alb
solute prohibition is the only solu-
ton to the liquor evil.
A. d. T. Opened.
Miss Helen Stanley, the first speak
er for the A. D. T., maintained that
the prohibition law is not the best
means by which to reach the final
geal, abstinence. Law, said the speak
er, is growth of a. community. Its
sphere is the practical, not the ideal.
1t should keep pace with public SEN
timent but cannot go far beyond 1t.
Ito ultimate aim is the education of
public sentiment. Law therefore must
be sound, efficient and educative.
Nowhere is this more necessary than
in the case of the liquor law.
The question we must debate is
therefore, whether a law based on
the Gothenburg system or prohibi-
ton law is sounder in principle which
is better in practice, and which has
the greater educative value.
Law Has Failed.
The prohibition law has failed; the
Gothenburg system has succeeded.
We are not advocating the system of
South Carolina. We are not advocat-
ing system to make the liquor traf-
&c respectable. We are advocating
a system to protect the dignity of the
law, and system which will enable
those who desire liquor to get it, but
under the best conditions possible
The system we advocate is not
rigid one. Its characteristics are in
general: First, it is not obligatory on
communities to have a place where
liquor is sold. The communities them
selves decide this by majority vote.
Second, under this system there ia no
desire to push sales, because increas-
ed sales means no increase in the pay
OF the dispenser. Third, the surplus
derived from the sale of liquor in the
dispensaries will be devoted not to
lower taxes. but in establishing and
maintaining benefits to the people
such as reading rooms. Fourth, a
state law would fix the regulations
OF the dispensary. Dispensaries would
be kept open only during stated hours.
Minors and habitual drunkards would
be prevented from purchasing. No
liquor would be sold on holidays. Lii
quor would be sold only in sealed
packages. There would be no induce
nents for lounging, no seats, no pa
pers, no extra cordially. Liquor
would be sold only upon the written
application of individuals and record
Of all sales would be kept.
The Gothenburg system is not
new principle. It is approved by the
ablest investigators, and is recon-
Hended by the committee of fifty,
which contained among others such
men as Seth Low, Charles J. Bona
parte and Carol d. Wright.
Miss Evans Argued Expediency.
Miss Evans, second speaker for the
affirmative, declared that prohibition
10 more expedient. 1t is at present
stamping out the liquor evil. There
may be violations of the prohibition
law in our state but, the existence
q a law does not imply total elimina-
,tion Of offenses against that law. A
certain amount of violation is to be
expected of any law. We can not
argue the doing away with a law be-
cause 1t is sometimes violated.
The fact that liquor dealers put
up fight in the interest of the IL
quor traffic at every election, is proof
that there Is virtue in the prohibitory
law.
The abolition of the saloon has in
creased prosperity in our state.
Protect the Children.
We can not reform a confirmed
drunkard but we can protect our chill
dren. Thousands of children in North
Dakota have never seen saloon.
Gladstone said CLAW makes II an easy