The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1920-09-21
AN'TTI.ALc0H0LISTS
GATHER AT CAPITAL
World Scientists, Economists
and DRY" Advocates Attend
Congress at Washington
CIV United Press)

Washington, Sept. 21.-Nearly L.
500 official representatives from
practically lf'civilized nations and
delegates from all important temper
ance societies in the world met here
today in the opening session OF the
Fifteenth International Congress
Against Alcoholism.
Well known scientists, economists,
physicians, psychologists and GRIMM
ologists will present in six day pro-
gram this week an exhaustive, sc1en-
tific Indictment of John Barleycorn
and all his works.
Every variety Of opinion on alco-
holism and the proper methods tor
regulating liquor traffic is held by
the legelates.
French representatives OF the Ii
grie Contre pAlcool conceive proh1b1-
ton as applying to brandies and sog-
nac-but not as to light wines. Some
of the Teutonic representatives except
beer, and several Scandinavians IA
vor the "Bratt system'-consisting
in a ''liquor card" system and licens-
ed drinking clubs.
A remarkable attendance Is sched-
uled at this years congress, countries
and delegates being generally anx-
ious to secure data as to the success
Of complete prohibition here.
Although the congress is expected
to give great impetus TO the anu
alcohol campaign turnout the world,
no definite organization to secure
world wide prohibition will be form
ed here. In addition to the varying
views of the members, the congress
regards prohibition as purely ma
tional problem.
Americans in charge Of the anair
call attention to the predominance IN
the membership of Independent sc1en-
lists, economists and sociolog1sts OF
repute, and the comparative absence
of clergymen and so-called profession
al Temperance advocates"
The Fifteenth Congress is post
ponement of one prevented by the
outbreak of the world war in 1914.
Since then, temperance victories
have been gained, notably the "eigh-
teenth amendment" in the United
states; various "war prohibition"
actments in European countries; com
plete prohibition in Finland, 1919;
local option granted in Denmark and
Scotland; eight wines only" prohf-
b1tion in Norway, 1919, and estab-
1ishment ,of the "Bratt System" in
Sweden.
Since the last congress several
new countries have come into being
as a result of the war. Practically
all have representation in the con-
gress.
In spite of the fact that we are
still technically at war with Germ
any and Austria, these latter -coun-
tries will have several representa-
tives at the Washington congress.
Prof. Dr. J. Gonsen of Berlin, Is
member of the executive committee
in charge of the affair and will de-
liver an address.
Prominent foreign names on the
program are: DR.. Ley Of the Univer-
sity of Brussels; DR.. Legrain, Paris;
DR.. P. Amalti, Florence, and DR..
Eudo MONT, Turin.
AN. interesting figure will be Hell
enius4Seppala. the Kramer of Fin
land, the only country with America
to have absolute prohibition.
Americans included on the pro-
gram are William Jennings Bryan.
Attorney-General Palmer. Secretary
of Navy Daniels and DR.. Harvey w.
Wiley.
The president Of the congress is
Premier Jonkheer, CHI. Ruijs de Beer
>enbrouck, of Holland.
The chairman of the American ex-
ecutive committee who made ar
rangements for the congress is Ed
win C. Dinwiddie, formerly of the
Anti-Saloon league.