The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-05-10
SWEDISH PLAN OF
LIQUOR CONTROL IS
SUCGESTEDFORU.
Minister to Scandinavian Coun.
try Says Scheme is Work.
ing Well There

washington, May lU.-(HJ-MOdl1l-
cation of the 18th amendment to per-
NIT form of state liquor control
similar to the Bratt system now in
force in Sweden was recommended
Tuesday to senate judiciary SUBJ
committee.
John M. Morehead, minister to
Sweden. advanced the plan. He said
a thorough study of the operation of
the Bratt system since his appoint
ment to the post in 1880 had convinc-
ed him it was satisfactory and sue
cessful.
Not since slavery" he said, "has
there been SO vital question before
the country as that of prohibition. In
spite of the many benefits which it
has unquestionably conferred upon us,
the unforeseen evils which have fol-
lowed in its wake now constitute our
greatest social problem"
To make possible adoption of the
Swedish system here, Morehead rec
commended another amendment to the
constitution, permitting states wish
ing to license liquor to do so through
legislation, and permitting dry states
to remain that way.
Against Modification
The minister labelled unwise or i'm
possible all proposals for notification
of the liquor laws, repeal of the 18th
amendment and modification of the
Volstead Act. He also concluded sat-
isfactory enforcement of the present
liquor laws was virtually impossible.
Turning to the Bratt system, he
testified its success rests upon the pro-
vision that all personal interest and
profit is removed from the liquor bus
mess. all profits accruing to the gov
eminent. with the trade put on a
scientific basis
Companies under strict government
supervision, he said. had monopoly
of the Swedish manufacture, purchase
and sale Of liquor.
He cited decreases in crime, drink
ing and deaths from alcoholism as
proof of the benefits of the Bratt
, system and said there was practically
no enforcement problem in the coun-
try. Since the adoption of the liquor
control system, he testified, the num-
Der of prohibition members in the
Swedish house had declined from 10l
to %.
He testified with the consent of the
state department. Previously the de-
partment had declined permission for
him to appear before congressional
committees to discuss prohibition.
Personally Dry
Describing himself as personally
dry" Morehead said IF the question
should come up whether we should
keep what we've got or go back to the
old conditions. I would vote dry again
In order to keep the advantages of
what we've got now and get rid of the
disadvantages. this system provides
for a government monopoly under
which liquor is rationed out by a sys-
tenn of allotment books.
AS Morehead concluded, Senator
Walsh. prohibitionist, asked him
how his plan differs from "the pro-
posal sometimes referred to as the
Raskob-Smith proposal whereby the
eighteenth amendment would be con-
tinued in each state until that state
adopts some system of control
Morehead replied there is Every
little difference but this offers them a
plan-the Bratt system"
Walsh said that under the Raskob-
Smith plan state might, Of course
take the old system of licensing"
Morehead responded that this would
not be possible under the plan he ad-
vocated, as it provides that only the
state would be able to sell or manu-
facture.
A state would not be permitted to
license private liquor traffic.
In reply to questions from Walsh
as to how the system Morehead rec
commended differs from the Canadian
plan, the witness said it was only in
detail but added that details some
times mean the difference between
success and failure"