Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1915-11-04
Important Events in Sweden,
Norway and Denmark.
BRIEFS FROM OLD COUNTRY
Interesting Items From The Three
Great Kingdoms Of the North So
iected FOR Seandinavians and
Their Descendants.
BY MARTIN w. oDLANo.

Since the beginning OF the Euro
pean war there has been a steady and
systematic curtailment in the sale Of
intoxicating liquors In Sweden, and
the temperance people have felt more
than pleased. 1t Is now reported that
the Stockholm system" which al
lows to each citizen only fixed
amount of liquor and which was In
augurated in the capital shortly after
the outbreak of the war, has been ex-
tended to 81 of the 100 districts in
Sweden and will. after the first of
next January, apply to the entire
country. The Stockholm system
says q special correspondent. allows
every citizen in good standing in the
community to become a moderate
drinker, but prevents him effectively
from becoming q topper or drunkard.
1t was ingeniously devised by DR.. Ivan
Bratt, present director of the system.
after all other expedients had failed.
Doctor Brat has been lauded, con-
demned, idolized and ridiculed, but
on one point all are agreed-the sys-
tenn works. The book system" was
devised by Doctor Brat at the begin.
ming Of the war. It allows every citi-
zen In good standing to buy one liter,
and no more, of spirituous liquor
every FIVE days. To make this plan
feasible, each person is provided with
small book resembling a commute,
ton railroad ticket, from which q
coupon is torn every time the con.
sumner buys his liter of any alcoholic
beverage he fancies. At the same
time his book is stamped with the
date of purchase. Without showing
his book, no citizen of Stockholm has
the remotest chance of obtaining a
bottle of liquor anywhere in the city
The regulation Is rigidly enforced. II
Is true that In some cases, however
exceptions are made IL the authorities
are convinced that q person can be
trusted with more liquor without abus
ing the privilege. But If the person
Is drunkard, has police record OF
has in any other way incurred the dis
pleasure of the authorities, he Is al
lowed no liquor. For purposes of as
certaining the standing of the either
| In the community, an elaborate care
catalogue system is maintained
The Scandinavian press of America
Is of the opinion that Sweden viii
not enter the war, as was predicted
in recent dispatch from Washington
1t is now proposed to defray the ex
pense of maintaining the commission
on provisions by levying a small ia,
on every person who applies for per
mission to export merchandise. 1t II
estimated that If 20 crowns were pait
at each application the revenue thu
derived would be about 10000 crowns
per year, which is more than sufficien
to meet the expense of the commits
sion.
The Finnish society of Stockholm
has registered protest against tn,
proposition that the Aaland island
be incorporated into the Swedish king
dom. The society holds that tn,
islands are Finnish territory and be
long to Finland. The society also eau
tons the people of Sweden agains
believing that Finland is loyal to Rus
STA in the present war. 1t says tina
the Firms are merely waiting for tn
psychological moment to make thei
strike for freedom from Russia.
An article in Dagens Nyheter o
Stockholm deprecates the talk In MOI
way and Denmark that Sweden In
tends to enter the war. 1t says tina
the leaders OF Norway and Denmark
ought to be too well informed as t,
Sweden's intentions to believe tina
Sweden would turn her back upol
the good understanding reached b,
the three Scandinavian monarch
| and their ministers at the Malmo con
ference. The article asserts that Swe
den is determined to remain neutra
and lays the lash upon the clique il
! Sweden that is clamoriug for the ma
| tons participation in the war on tn,
side of Germany.