Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-05-05
EKERA STANDS FOR
GOTHENDURG BILL
ADVOCATES swEOEN's SYSTEM
FOR CONTROL OF LIQUOR
BUSINESS IN WISCONSIN.
c, A. A. MeEE AND X. w. AUSTIN
SPEAK FOR BREWERS AND
AGAINST INNOVATION.
Madison, April 20.

-h0AiSOAs april ~.
The hearing before the assembly
committee on state affairs yesterday
afternoon on the Gothenburg bin
drawn by Herman L. Ekern developed
into forensic battle of no mean pro
portions between Mr.. Ekern and C. A.
A. MCGEE, the latter appearing in
behalf of Milwaukee brewers against
the measure.
M Ekern maintained that where
the Gothenburg system has been in
operation in Sweden and Alabama,
the consumption of liquor has been re.
duced and the cause o. TEMPERANCE
has been promoted to the extent that
in many places after a term of wears
drinking places have been absolutely
abolished. He pronounced the system
a great stepping stone toward prohi
bition, the latter condition being ac.
complisbed under this system slowly
aud peaceably and without any great
upheayal of municipal affairs The
greatest reform under a plan of hav-
ing one corporation conduct all sa-
looms in a community is the moral up
lift Of the entire business resultant
from the care exercised by the cor
poration TO obey all laws aimed to
regulate the liquor traffic.
AEoCao +bo4
ton of the Gothenburg system by a
municipality would open the way to
a complete monopoly of the saloon
business by one corporation, the Or
ganization and control of which would
engender more graft and political cor
ruption than could possibly obtain
under existing laws. Instead of being
broad minded and philanthropic men,
the members of this corporation would
naturally exert every possible effort
to induce large business in
order to pay expenses make a profit
of 10 per cent allowed under the provi-
sions of the bill, and an additional
profit TO be turned into the city treas.
ury so as to assure the permanency of
their business. Going further he cited
the possibility of the brewers them.
selves organizing and controlling the
business, and instead of being re
moved from political activity, being
forced into politics to conserve their
business interests.
Mr.. MCGEE quoted statistics to
show that the Gothenburg system. as
operated in Sweden. promotes drunk
enness. In 1906 there were 1000
arrests for drunkenness in the
city of Got&enburg which has
a population of 10000. In the
city of Milwaukee with population
of 100000 there are not this
number of arrests for drunkenness in
four years under the prevailing saloon
system, he argued. The speaker also
presented statistics to show there had
been a great increase in the consump-
ton OF liquor in Sweden while the sys-
tenn was in operation.
w. H. Austin spoke briefly against
the bin. laying stress upon the
that the provision permitting the cor
poration to retain a profit of 10 per
cent would be a big inducement to
hustle for business. and that undoubt-
eddy there would be nc reduction in
tie amount of liquor drank
Mr.. Ekern in reply argued that the
representatives of the brewers evil
IDENTIFY opposed the bill because they
feared it would result in a decree of
their business. He read from re-
port submitted By a special inves-
tigation committee of the Massa-
chusetts legislature which looked
into the Gcthenburg system to show
that the system had merit.