New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1917-02-14
COMPROMISE DRY" .
QUESTION IS TALK
CANADIANS MAY PERMIT MAN
UFACTURE AND SALE OF
LIGHT LIQUORS
A YEARS EXPERIENCE MODIFJES
VIEWS OF PEOPLE ON BOTH
SIDES

There is prospect of a compromise
on the prohibition question in Canada.
An article from Winnipeg, printed IN IN,
a Twin City newspaper few days ago.
says that after years experience with
prohibition in the provinces of Mani
toba, Saskatchewan and Alberta the
defeat recently of similar measure
in British Columbia has cast an interest
ing light on the practical operation of
the law -.
The attitude of extremists on both
sides has unquestionably been modified
in this period, based upon the praeti-
cal lessons taught, but the outstanding
fact revealed is the widespread popularity
of prohibition as applied to highly
spirituous liquors and a growing senti-
ment in favor of the European system
which permits traffic in light wines and
beer of low alcoholic percentage.
It is now conceded that if the prohi-
bition measure just defeated in the
Pacific coast province had recognized
this scientific principle the result of
: the polling would have been more sat
isfactory to the drys and would have
wiped out the chief support Of the ex-
tsrenlists and the vets. The largest
distillery in Ontario has just been pre-
sented to the Dominion government,
free OF expense, for the use Of the NUM-
lions department., and as that province
has recently adopted prohibition, this
move on the part of the owners of a
plant estimated to represent an invest
ment Of $5,O00,O00 is accepted generally
an as expression of manufacturers ,-of
alcohol that the day Of highly spirituous
liquors had passed in North America
above the 18th parallel.
Compromise Measure Pending.
In each province, however, a meas
IRE is before tha legislature to DESTROY
the old deadlock between the vets and
the drys by adopting amendments in
favor Of permitting the sale of beer
and wines Which DO not exceed 7 to 10
per cent Of alcoholic strength. At
present Ontario and Manitoba PERRIN
the unrestricted sale CT beer and wine
not in excess Of 2 per cent. Saskatche.
wan and Alberta place the limit at 3
per cent. The European system finds
reasonable dead line at 10 per cent.
The indications are that this conces-
sion to light wines and beer will be made
in all the Western provinces. In fact
Dominion measure is now under
consideration by the parliament at Of
tawa to prohibit the manufacture \and
sale of whiskey in Canada and permit
the sale of beer and light wines not !.
exceeding 7 per cent alcohol This
neutral ground is popular on the theory
that it will eliminate many of the
Objectionable features revealed by the
during the past year of
total prohibition.
When the liquor issue was acute in
Western Canada the element advocat-
ing total prohibition could secure no
concessions from the distillers. En-
trenched behind years of prosperity,
the industry could not be moved ex-
cept by heroic measures, and the whole
system was wiped out: between Quebec
and the Rocky Mountains.
Inter-provincial traffic, however, could
not be prohibited under the Dominion
law, and the freedom with which ''hard''
liquor was sent back and forth between
the provinces for personal consumption
proved a most Objectionable feature of
the situation.
Hotels Hard Hit. 8
There were 100 hotels in Manitoba
when the law became effective More
than half of them closed automatically
and years operation has closed many
of the others. This proved serious
factor to the travelling public. In Sas-
katchewan and Alberta. similar condi-
tons prevailed. It is estimated that
$50,O00,000 invested in hotels in the
West were lost which may be saved
if the European system of light wine
and beer can be introduced.
The Saloon" as it is understood in
theU United States never existed in Canada.
The sale of Intoxicating liquors has been
permitted only in connection with hotels
OF prescribed facilities for the travelling
public Wholesale hol1sos 1uoro liconcod