The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1915-10-26
P R D H|b| 7 10 N
| N N D R VI A !
IS SP RE AIDING c
20, JTRY-WIDE MOVEMENT
is on FOR ELIMINATION
OF DEMON RUMv
tBy Associated Press.l

/ 4 ANpttNA3f wv. A-Ns -
prohibition movement which, since
the beginning of the war, has beer
gaining momentum in all the Sean
i.navian countries, has become il
Norway leading issue in the pres
ent political campaign Gnudal
Xnudsen, the prime minister, stated
N a recent speech that countrywide
prohibition would be an achievement
Of the near future. But excepi
among socialist and radical circles
which have strongly esponsed the
prohibition cause, it is thought thai
the economic and international com
form will make it impracticable-oI
plicatlons resulting from such a re
At least inadvisable.
The wine producing European
countries do not look favorably upon
the curtailment OF their liquor ex
ports to Norway, and it is felt here
that in the case of prohibition re
forms, they will undertake reprisah
which will seriously injure the com
mercial and financial standing Of tht
country. In 1909, when the legisla
cure passed a bill restricting the i'm
port OF French wines, Norwegian
bonds were refused rating on ths
Paris exchange, and the bill was re
Dealed. The French deciaraAon
made at this time, to the effect that
France would assume the liberty Of
making such an answer to any Nor
wegian legislation detrimental tt
Frances wine trade is still in force
France, Spain and Portugal, accord
ing to tariff declaration of 1910
will double the duty on articles i'm
ported from countries which throw
difficulties in the way OF the wine
trader. The Norwegian exports t
these countries are several millioi
dollars in excess of the imports, ane
any interference with these exports
would work serious commercial in
Jury on Norway. Norway, at presen
enjoys the most favored nation
clause in her commercial treaties
with France. If France feels thai
her wine exports to Norway are
being restricted, she may, accordin{
to the tariff declaration already men
toned, take any steps the circum
stances distate," including the rails
ing OF harbor dues for Norwegian
ships in French harbors, whict will
make it difficult for Norway to con-
pete with other nations. France at
present takes half of all the wood
pulp and celiulose produced in Nor
way and Portugal and Spain eacl
take thirty per cent of Norway's
split cod.
Those opposed to prohibition use
these arguments to show that
small country like Norway, which is
in so many ways dependent on 9th.
er countries, cannot, without injur-
ing profitable trade and disturbing
her financial standing, adopt as
strict degree Of prohibition, as has
Iheen urgued. All parties, however
are agreed that there should be
rigid control OF the sale of alcoholic
beverages and that this consumption
should be replaced by light wines
and beer.
1t is also argued that Norways
long coast-line and thousands of pro
tected fjords would make it impos
sible to prevent wholesale smuggling
1t is also common in Norway to make
wine-some of it containing high
per cent OF alcohol-out Of blue Der
ries, currants and apples, which can
be sold by grocers without special
license Critics OF the prohibition
program state that it would be diff
acult to devise and enforce law to
prevent people from distilling berry
vines and stronger alcoholic drinks
n their own kitchens for home use