Evening star., 1931-11-29


drinking became popular with the youth
of the nation; as enforcement broke
down. penalties were increased and per-
Sonal liberty was further invaded by
statutes facilitating search and seizure;
Snooping became an art; the appetite for
light wines and beers was diverted to
strong liquor; enforcement, impossible in
the illicit retail field, was concentrated
Intellectually on the curtailment OF inn
portation; government costs increased
through elaborate police forces and,
maintenance of more prisons; the state
treasury grew poorer as a hierarchy Ct
smugglers and bootle2gers enriched
themselves, and general disreSpect foT
all law evolved as virtually all classes et
society," openly or secretly, ignored tl'e
prohibitory statute.
These results recapitulate the expert
ence of the United States, but the details
of Finlands illicit liquor industry, as
they are colored by local customs aid
conditions, afford many contrasts Graft
paid to public officials is negligible; Some
types of bootlegging are still representa-
tive of the early prok. ition era in Amer
lea; though rival liQuo. syIldicates eS!st,
there is no gun play between them; fh>
manufacture and ingredients of syn
thetic liquor are unlike those in the
States, and the acceptance of the law'S
debacle is casually assumed.
This is indicated in the advertised gio-
lation by the best hotels and restaurants
1 talked of prohibition TO the manager
of leading and famous Helsingfors .los-
telry.
IF you are going to write about pre-
hibition in Finland" he said, pleas: tell
the American tourists that the best
liquor is always to be had here in my
hotel" He was earnest in his desire to
have it publicly known abroad that his
dining room compared favorably in every
way to the best on the continent. iFor it
is not necessary to bring ones own liquor
to the cafes of Finland's cities Im fact,
that practice would be frowned upon as
unfair competition. Though many places
put the illicit beverages in dark glass,
near beer bottles, and SO deliver it to the
tables, there the disguise and secrecy
end. The waiter promptly emptIes the
bottles into colorleS tumblers ard it is
openly consumed.
MOT only is liquor obtainable at the
better cafes without the formality
of identification, but there are fine facili-
ties for all classes of people and pocket
books to be served Taxi drivers can al
ways supply the requirements of their
fares. ConciergeS, bell boys porters-al-
most all ServantS-can make aIa imme-
diate delivery of liter of alcohol. And
there are a host of retailers who supply
kE1n
own dwellings. Almost every oae met
during the weeks I was in Finland offered
to furnish me with the telephone num-
Der of a reliable man who USUALLY has
good stuff
Response to a telephone call put
through to one of these numbers would
be the arrival at the hotel within half
an hour of wholesome, somewhat timid
housewife. From an attache ease, car
ried in her hand, she would make deliv-
cry of the item ordered and offer samples
of other brands carried in stock.
But one such call brought out an ex-
ceptlon to this procedure anG revealed
the operating methods of the small boot
logger. His ritual was not unlike the
early methods of his American brothers.
1 had ordered quart of Scotch brought
to my room at hotel
II am not allowed to make deliveries
ut that place." said the man al the other
end OF the wire, but land this without
asking my identity or how had got his
number) II you'll meet me on the boule-
ward opposite the opera in front of the
Russian legation, I'll give it to you"
L followed directions. When arrived,
there was man bundled in huge over
coat, walking past the legation with the