The independent-reporter., 1909-12-09
The w. G. 7. u.
Observation-Disclosures
Prohibition In sweden.

European Notes, OF Inc department
The International Movement Against
Alcohol" In the Record Of Christian
Work for November.
Four hundred thousand men have
been idle on the streets OF swedish
cities and towns for five weeks. The
greatest economic struggle In the
history OF the nation has been going
on. and In spite OF the many infiam-
mabIe elements below the surface
the public order has never approach
ed the record of these days. DIR Ivan
Bratt. writing In Dagens Nyheter
ineither paper nor writer are prohi-
bitionistsl concerning the effect oil
the prohibition enactment which the
government put in force when the
strike opened. says
when one goes through the streets
Of Stockholm one would thlnk one s
self in another country. The infalii-
BILE national symbols, unsteady gait
and resounding oaths, are no longer
perceived The police have nothing TO
do and the court average OF hfty
drunks a day has sunk to just one.
One knows ones self no longer One
asks. Can 1t go on SO? These two
weeks have brought much water to
the prohibitionist's MILL"
From all parts Of the country come
reports of the jails being empty. The
death rate of Stockholm fell after the
first week to a point never before
reached, 81 per thousand, the rate
for the same week in ten past years
having been 13.4)
At a recent meeting of $4,000 strik-
ers at Hornsbarghaga Gust out OF
Stockholm), declaration for perma-
nent national prohibition was adopt
ed without a dissenting vote. This
action was not instigated by mere
momentary enthusiasm. 1t was pre-
ceded by two sessions of the entire
leadership of the Stockholm trade
| unions, called to carefully consider
the whole subject.
Among other things in the resolu-
| ton were the following:
1.-The immediate, magnificent, and
to many, unexpected results of this
provisional prohibitory enactment has
astonished the world. Drunkenness
has ceased and with it those accidents
and crimes which are a consequence
of drunkenness. The drinksellers
till, which has hitherto been filled
with money from the laborer's pocket
is empty.
Shall this attractive picture fade
away? Will Swedish people allow
without protest the alcohol capital
again to throw its octopus arms
around ten thousands of their fellow
citizens?
The Finnish people, Iceland and
nine of the United States have al
ready stamped the drink business as
a social enemy 1t is now the proud
duty of the Swedish work
men to put themselves at the
head of this worldemancipating
movement. By so doing they will
write one of the noblest pages in
Swedish history and will earn the
blessings of succeeding generations.
Comrades let US drop all unneces-
sary discussion. Let us rally to the
great task of our emancipation. The
way to this emancipation goes through
drink ohibition-effective and per-
manent Forward to this end in all
parts of Sweden"
The other document | take from a
Swedish provincial paper, the Baros
Dagblad. Its editor writes:
The wife of a day laborer came
up to my Office recently and asked to
see me. She was neatly dressed but
had the worn way of one who has
struggled against year-long difficulty
and privation.
She looked about to convince her
self that no one overheard her and
! then said, | am SO afraid lest some
one should learn that | have come
here, but have really longed for this
moment and would allow myself NO
peace of mind until | had come and
] begged you to write in your paper
that we wives of working men have
never lived such happy life as dur
ing this strike.
And so she related what she had
on her heart 1t was indeed strike
times and bread was short enough but
through this prohibition her husband
had become altogether sober. For
more than thirty years she had been
he had been a hard drinker He
neglected MS WOrk, DuI lOOu ne mubt
always find on the table when he got
home. Otherwise there were blows
and beatings.
THE weeks pay went chiefly to
the saloon (the Gothenburg system
drinkshop) Often he brought home
as much as four litres of spirits at
one time. What could there be left
over for wife and children? She
must take basket on her arm and
go round to kind folk for help.
But now, 1t was 80 peaceful! When
one sat down at meals 1t was like a
wedding breakfast The little she
had tasted SO good! Her husbands 8
Aarsh. cold manner WAS changed He