The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-03-17

became alarmed; drunken men are
not profitable.
For years the nation battled with
the problem. They tried high license,
low license, no license at all, and pro-
hfbitiOn. and each seemed just little
more of a failure than it's predeces-
sor. The nation continued to grow
more sodden and drunken.
Just at the time that all known
methods of dealing with the liquor
problem had been tried and proven
failures, the Swedish workingmen
elected a large number Of Socialist
members to- their legislative body
These Socialist members of the
Strothring made a proposal to handle
the liquor problem in accordance with
Socialist philosophy. Because the
condition was desperate and every
known method had been tried and
failed, the Socialists were given free
hand. and all forces of government
worked in harmony with them.
THE government took over the con-
troll of distilleries and breweries. by
purchase. / think, the price being ar
ranged by a board Of arbitration The
government plainly stated that unless
these factories could be bought at the
cost of erection, the government
would build new ones for themselves
The price, therefore. was nominal
The owners of distiIling plants and
breweries had no wish to have these
useless plants on their hands when
the government went into business,
SO prices were amicably arranged.
1.-The smaller plants were closed.
the larger ones brought up to their
highest efficiency, and the govern
ment proceeded to make beverages as
pure as an alcoholic drink can be
said to be pure. The best of chem
lists were engaged by the government,
not to reduce the cost Of making bev-
erages, but to eliminate all adultera-
ton and harmful substances.
THE saloons, wine gardens and
beer gardens were taken over by the
government also. "Closed?" you ask
No, not closed, for man is a social
animal, and must have social meet
ing places. Instead of closing these
poor mems clubs. their use as a So
cial meeting place was widened. Sa-
looms were converted into lecture
halls and ball rooms. the wine gar
dens changed to play grounds for
children, and gymnasium parks for
young people: beer gardens were
ers and families.
I'm each locality dispensaries were
established where pure beverages
were dispensed at the cost of produc-
ton and distribution. In Sweden the
dispensary keeper Is not in business
for himself, not dependent upon
profits, but is hired by the govern
ment at fixed salary 1t is imma-
terial to him whether he sells a half
pint or ten thousand gallons, his pay
envelope has just the same amount
in it on pay day.
The Swedish government is not in
the liquor business to make profit.
but to control and mitigate the drink
evil. Their method, which is the
method Of the Socialist party the
world over, has proven successful
even beyond the most sanguine
dreams of the Socialists themselves.
! In eighteen months drunkenness de-
creased IS per cent. the consumption
of intoxicating liquor 65 per cent, and
! Sweden has taught the world how to
handle the drink problem in senst-
BILE. rational, scientific way.
| This plan of handling the problem
brought forth many striking features.
| 1t made it impossible for working
man to drink up his wages. The price
of a half gallon of the best beer is
slightly less than a cent and Swe-
dish workingman cannot possibly
squander more than a few cents of
his wages for lack of tank capacity.
| The treating habit has almost dis
appeared. No one feels complimented
when his neighbor squanders the mu-
nificent sum OF half a cent for a
schooner SO high that he can hardly
see over it, and when he has found
the bottom there is no possibility of
returning the compliment; there is
no room for the contents of another.
So treating is practically thing of
the past
. l shall have more on this subject
tomorrow for you will ask, What did
they do for those thrown out of en-
ployment?"
Yours truly.
CHARLES A. SEHI.
SAG South Seventh street.