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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 3, 1916)
12 A THE OMAHA SUNDAY- BEE: DECEMBER 3, 1916. "BE GOOD OR YOU WON'T GET UPR" sVeden Hits Upon Novel and Practical Plan to Control Alcohol's Sale. IN 'INTEREST OP MORALITY" (Correspondence or The Aasnclsted Pre" ) Stockholm, Nov. ,15. The city coun cil has just renewed for a term ot three years to the "Mock-noim sys tem company" the monopoly in the sale of liquors which that company has held for the last tnree years, nil other organization contested for the franchise, but the council could see no reason for making a change. By renewing the franchise the city authorities have set the stamp of their approval on a novel plan of controlling consumption, which was first intro duced by the Stockholm company, and in the beginning gave tHe company a ninno rmsition among the many "disinterested management" com panies that have been in existence under the so-called "Gothenburg sys tem " This plan, briefly stated, in volves a system oy. wnicn inose wn trolling the sale of liquor are enabled to say to the consumers: n "Be good, or you'll get no liquor. Dr. Ivan Bratt, a former physician, a sociologist and student of the drink question, is the father of the idea, whose outstanding feature fi the reg ulation of the retail trade by means of a pass book, called in Swedish "mot bok." , Moral Purpose. I The old method of controlling the sale of liquor, already referred to as the Gothenburg system, dates from 1855. It had as its specifically Swed ish feature the monopoly in the trade which it entrusted to quasi-private companies. The whole business in a definite area was placed in the hands of such a company," whose profits were limited to a small .mount, and which was, in the words of the old law, to sell liquor "in the interests of morality." Apart from their power to 'restrict the total sales, however, these companies had no way of get ting it the individual who used liquor to excess. . , , i Dr. Bratt, after a long study of the matter, conceived the idea of the pass book as the best method of selling liquor "in the interest of merality, a thing which, he felt,- was not being achieved under the old system, bo lie organized the Stockholm System company the Stockholm System Joint Stock company, to give it its full name and secured the monopoly for the capital city three years ago. The company has authority to con duct all retail establishments for the sale of liquor to be drunk off the premises,-but may also delegate this authority to -private persons or com panies. Some forty of these sw-called J,off" licenses are thus held by per sons other than the system company, but these will not be extended after the' deaths of the present holders. Adults' Passbooks. Control of sales at the "off" places is effected by means of the passbook referred to. A passbook is issued to an adult resident of the city upon ap plication, provided his or her record justifies it.,. The company maintains an elaborate card index, in which are listed not only all persons to whom books have been issued or from whom they have been withdrawn, but all persons to whom, if they apply, books will not be issued. Books are not I , 1 ! . , A 1 Am A n ISSUCa lO naDUUai uiuiimiuo, r"-' sons who have been arrested for drunkenness within a year last past, to paupers or to persons who have figured unpleasantly in police court records. A man who has been a-par-ticipant in a public brawl, for exam ple, is pretty sure to find, upon ap plying tor a passbook, that his rec ord is contained in the index and that he can get no book, for the sys tem company, co-operating with the fiolice, watches the newspapers regu arly tor criminal news. Conviction of serious crimes or of drunkenness results in the withdrawal t the passbook. Care has to be taken to note all deaths in the city. Other wise, said Dr. Pratt, in a talk with jthe Associated Press correspondent, it Idas been the company's experience Jthat "about fifteen per cent of all jholders of books keep on drinking i : ,l. 1 I . 1. ..... r.i ilowing their death." persons feeling themselves aggrieved' by the with Jdrawal or refusal of a passbook may appeal to the state authorities, but there have been only four or five ap meals during the company's existence, find none has succeeded. . j Until recently the passbooks au thorized the purchase of sixty liters fc early, of which not more than one jihird of a liter could be bought every (turn fiave Owinor In an ntVi-ritiiy r t taction in the distillation of spirits lue to the necessity for conserving Sweden s available supply of bread- tuns, this amount has just been re- uced to forty-eight liters yearly, and turtner reduction is probable. Further! Sobriety. In this connection Dr. Bratt noint- d out what he considers apart from he furtherance of sobrietv through he passbook system its economic alue. I here was, prior to the pass book system, no adequate or practi- al method of regulating consumption hroughout the kingdom. The state authorities, however, were so im pressed with rthe workings, of the .Bratt system in the first two years of tits existence that it was put into ef fect an over the Kingdom on January P. last, wnenitne whole country was iyided into 102 "control areas, each cwith its own company and its pass book valid only in the district in Ivhich it is issued. Now, when it be jtion, it can be done precisely as Ger jmany, for instance, can regulate its tread consumption by increasing or (reducing the amount called for by its Drraa-caras. No liquor can be imported into Swe. iden except through the respective .companies. A peculiar feature of the situation is that the Stockholm com pany, tor example, is obliged to tm 'port any certain brand of liquor de sired by the "holder of a passbook. All lie has to do is to make due applica tion and deposit the money to cover -costs, freight and duty. , The company thereupon secures the desired brand. A corresponding number or coupons us, ot course, detached Jrom its pass (book. , Harder Problem. f To control the sale of liquors at the place holding on licenses, that is, licenses to sell liquor 1 be drunk on the premises, is not so simple. It is, of course, possible to limit the hours of sale, and this has been done In addition to this, the chief effort has' been directed to limiting con sumption of spirits by removing al incentive to an increased sale. The Stockholm company, in addition to enjoying a monopoly of the retail trade at the "off" places, has also a monopoly of the wholesale trade to the holders ot the on licenses. In the first vear of its existence it de termined the average amount retailed by the respective licenses in the last preceding years and established that figure as the maximum on which they would be permitted to make a profit. On all sales above that amount the entire profits go to the company. The restaurateur, the saloon keeper, etc., have thus no incentive to increase their sales of liquor, but will rather be inclined to push the sales of beers and wines, which are not under the system s control. It is Dr. Bratt's plan eventually to eliminate entirely all private profits" on sales ot distilled liquors, the maxima established three years ago wjll, instead of being increased as the city's population increases, diminish gradually, and it is hoped that it will some day be possible to provide that no gain shall be made on, liquors by the holders ot on licenses. The Stockholm System company diners from an ordinary stock com pany in two important respects, namely, the manner' in which the directors are appointed and the limi tation ot its profits. Une ot the hve directors is named by the state, two are chosen by the city council of Stockholm, and the other two by the shareholders. The company's capital is 200,000 crowns, and the profits available for dividends may not exceed 5 per cent on the capital, mak ing only 1U.UUU crowns available tor distribution to stockholders. Direc tors salaries and the running ex penses of the company rent, pay of some 500 employes, etc. are paid from gross receipts. State Profits. All excess profits accrue to the state. The municipalities, which prior to 1913, received them, now receive annual subsidies, which diminish gradually and cease altogether in 1935. statistics appear to establish JJr. Bratt's claim that his idea has justi fied itself. In 1913. under the old sys tem, 5,662,397 liters of distilled liquors mainly what the Swedes call "aqua vit, a hery brandy were sold in Stockholm: In 1915, despite the in creased population and the great num ber of foreigners in the city, total sales sank to 3.422.098 liters. Cases of chronic alcoholism reported by dis trict physicians sank from 492 in 1909, 512 in 1912 and 492 in 1913 to 318 in 1914 and 173 in 1915. -There were 537 cases of delirium tremens reported in vt and M5 in 1913: in 1914 the num ber fell to 459 and went down to 363 the following year. Arrests for drunk enness fell oft from some 17,000 in each 1912 and 1913 to 11.878 in 1914 and 11,323 in 1915. The number will be below 10,000 this year, according to Dr. Bratt. Dr, Bratt himself is not a teeto taller, and does not strive for prohi bition. Prohibition Sentiment, ' There is, however, a very strong prohibition sentiment in Sweden. Its beginning dates back to 1830, al though the agitation begun . then which was largely due to an American crusade abated considerably after' the passage of the liquor act of 1855 and did not revive until the end'of the '70s. Then again the impulse came from America. The Interna tional Order of Good' Templars pass ed into Sweden in 1879, and now has nearly 2,500 senior and more than 1,000 junior lodges. In addition, lit erally dozens of temperance societies exist, with a total membership ap proaching 500,000. Teetotallers at tached to dissenting religious bodies, such as the Methodists and the Sal vation Army, swell this total. In 1W9 a joint convention of tem perance bodies arranged for a vote on the question.of prohibition. No less than 1.884.377 men and .women over 18 years old that is, more than 55 per cent of the total inhabitants of Sweden ot or above that age voted in its favor. A royal' temperance committee was appointed in Novem ber, 1911, to prepare a measure for local option and to deal with the question of prohibition. The com mittee made its recommendations in 1914, but the Riksdag could not reach an agreement and the matter fell through. ' Indicative' of the part played by Sweden in the prohibition movement is the fact that since 1905 a position of international t-hiet templar has been filled by the Swede. Edward Waw- rinsky. ' y Roumanian Jewish Soldier Expresses Bold Opinion (Correspondence of Tlje Associated Preae.) Toerzburg. Transylvania. Nov. 15. Prisoners of war being not unwill ing to please - their captors, their statements must be taken with a laree pinch of salt. Though there be no officer ot the enemy present, the prisoner of war cannot be sure that his statements do not become known to the powers into whose hands the fortunes of war has placed him. the Associated fress correspond ent was able to interview here today two score Roumanian officens and men who had fallen into captivity near Rucar, some twenty miles south of here. No central power officer was within earshot. . One of the first men questioned was a Roumanian Jew, a man of some education and standing. He had served as a private. Unblushingly he said that he had looked for a chance to surrender. Questioned why, the man almost flew 'into a rage. He could not see why a Jew should fight for a government which in times of peace gave, him no vote and no part in the affairs of his country. He hoped that the central troops would get to Bucharest in a few days and. hang them all,' especially Bratianu and Take Jonescu, who had so needlessly involved the country in war. Six other Jews were a little timid in their expressions, but seemed to heartily agree with their spokesman. Captured officers are non-interview-able, as a rule. .The code, as well as tact, forbids that they be questioned, but one of them, a tail, handsome fel low of about 25, gave it as his opinion that the war was "une sale affaire" a dirty business. Graff to Be Department Leader at Kansas City John D. Snoop, president of the National Educational association, has selected Superintendent Graff of the public schools to conduct, a round table discussion at a meeting of the superintendents' department to be held at Kansas City in February. FRENCH SEIZURE ANGERS CHINESE Land Grabbing; of Prance Causes Indignation and Crowds Storm Chamber. BOYCOTT IS THREATENED (Correspondence of The Associated Press.) Tien-Tsin. Oct. 31. France's aggres sive action in seizing a strip of land from the Chinese and annexing it to the French concession, has aroused the deepest indignation among the Chinese population in Tien-Tsin, and threatens to become a subject of im portant international negotiations. Ihe land seized is somewhat over one-half a mile square, and lies imme diately south of the Tien-Tsin canal, which separates it from the old part of the French concession The strip lies between the Japanese and British concessions. Immediately following the forcible seizure rf the land by the French consul general, M. Henri Bourgeois, and a body of French troops and po licemen on October 20, indignation meetings were held in the Chinese city and a crowd of 5,000 Chinese marched to the Chamber of Commerce and de manded that influential committees be sent to wait upon various officials to protest against China's submission to France's aggression. Talk of Boycott. Threats have been made that French goods will be boycotted and Chinese deposits will be withdrawn from French banks, if the French persist in retaining the land. News papers are also advocating that addi tional Chinese cooIias shall not be permitted to go to France for agnail tural work unless ,the French govern ment restores the land. ' France first began its efforts to ob tain an addition to its concession in Tien-Tsin fourteen years ago. A letter was written at that time by the trench government asking lang Shao, who was then the head of the customs in Tien-Tsin, to grant France a strip of ground over a mile square located south oi the old French concession. The request was so unreasonable in Tang Shao-yi's opinion that he never wrote a reply. Twelve years later the French government made representa tions to the foreign office that Tana Shao-yi's silence amounted to consent, and consequently claimed title to the land which it had asked for. French Police. Meantime several French citizens had acquired land in the coveted dis trict, or at least pretended .that they had acquired property rights there through purchase from Chinese. The french government put some police men into the district. China pro tested, but finally consented to per mit four French pplicemen to re main rather than have a prolongation of the controversy. China continued to maintain nine Chinese policemen there. Two years ago France became em phatic in its demand that China grant exclusive police rights to France, and sign over the coveted territory. The negotiations became acute in June of the present year, when the French minister at "Peking, M. Conty, Urged the i immediate settlement of the claim. The Chinese foreign minister, Lu Cheng-Hsiang, temporized by say ing that he would consider the mat ter, but that China would not attempt to give away land without the con sent of the people of Tien-Tsin and the aflfecte8 property holders. There is considerable difference in the French and Chinese versions of the confer ence between M. Conty and Mr. Lu Cheng Hsiang. The French say that the minister of foreign. affairs agreed to grant their request, but the Chinese deny this emphatically. . ' Rely on Japan.' , On October 18 the French charge d'affaires, M. Martel, delivered an ul timatum to the foreign office, in which he said that France would take other steps to acquire the land if the Chi nese srovemment did not agree to The Raymond $100 Cash Winning Letter Novembes 14, 118. ' Th, Raymond Furniture Co., 15th and Howard Streets) Omaha, Nebr. Gentlemen : " 1 herewith submit an article for your approval in your contest for the "Qualification! I Look for in a 8aleiman When Purchasing." First impressions are cenerally lasting. The first thine I look for on enteritis a stae la an atmosphere of friendllnese. I gain this impression im mediately from the elerk who freete me. His personanty, above all others, elves me the most favorable impression. His enthusiasm to serve, and ability to rise above being merely a salesman and take the same interest in me that a member of the firm would, are also points I look for. He must possess the ability to proceed' in a business-like manner, after I have made known my wishes, and demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the merchandise he sells. Without hesitation he must be able to analyse just what he feels certain would please me: to offer helpful sanctions and to be able to intelligently give his reasons for such suggestions as may differ from those I had in mind. Not to show the slightest displeasure when it becomes apparent that he is not to mske a sales not to be overconfident in his estima tion of bis merchandise; to tell me honestly his opinion of an article as to its serviceability and otheV qualities, and whether or not If the situation were reversed If he would consider purchasing it; to treat me aa a life-long cus tomer rather than one who had never before entered hia store and may never come again; to cause me to leave the store with the satisfaction that I could have done no better elsewhere; to make me feel that no sale is considered complete that does not meet with my fullest approval: to give me that con fidence that ho la acting with full responsibility for the company In all transactions, and that every agreement shall be faithfully carried out 1S11 Evans Street, i Omaha, Nebraska. We, the aaderaltned committee selected la Judge the relative esarita af the letter submitted ks the Raymond letter caateat, which closed November IS, have determined upon the abovo letter from among some l.TOO letter placed m our hands, many ethers of which an deeervmg of especial meatioai. (Signed) CHAS. L. SYKES, CHAS. D. NOLEN, S. S. CONKLIN, O. W. PRESTON, O. E. KNISELY, Judges. turn it over within fortv-cinht hours. Chen Chin-tae. the actine minister of foreign affairs, replied that the Chi nese government could not be re sponsible for any rioting and trouble which might result from the forcible seizing of the land. The French charge d'affaires responded that r ranee would assume responsibility. and tjiat Japan had plenty of troops in Tien-Tsin to check any trouble which might ensue. In suite of the protest of the Chi nese, the French consul-general at Tien-Tsin, M. Henri Bourgeois, to gether with the French troops and po licemen, took possession ot the land on October 20 and ordered the nine Chinese policemen to leave the prop erty. They refused, and were taken by the French consul-general to the French municipal court. Additional French policemen were placed in the disputed district and French soldiers were posted on the opposite side of the canal. . ,z Chinese newspapers are emphatic ally, demanding the recall of the French charge d'affaires and the French consul-general who were re sponsible for the forcible action taken in this city. Germans Change Signs Left by Roumania's Men (Correspondence of The Associated Press.) 1 Fogaras. Transylvania. Nov. 2. The legend "Roumania Mare and paper ribbons in the Roumanian capi tal colors, blue, yellow and red, are the only signs left in this region to day which speak of occupancy by the first and Second Roumanian armies. though many a wrecked or burned house gives evidence of the recent passing of some hostile force. "Rou mania Mare" Greater Roumania had been Dainted above the doors of nearly all houses in which some Rou manian official had his headquarters. Those who caused them to be placed are gone, and the central powers' troops, by transposing the letter i have changed the legend to "Arme Roumania" Poor Roumania. The paper ribbons still hang in the au- tumn-baread trees. Persistent Advertising Is the Road to Success. Pimples Getting Very Uncommon Stuart's Calcium Wafers Have Dona Wonders for Society in Ridding It of Pimples and Other Skin Eruptions. ' Writ for a Free Trial Pack. Yon don't see anywhere near the number of facet spotted with pimples since Stuart's Calcium Wafers became so widely known and used. They are rich In calcium sulphide, which is a wonderful blood purifier, with a most remarkable action in the akin. You can al most see the pimples fade away. This re markable substance also removes black heads, oily, muddy complex too, redness, roughness, ecsema and all aorta of skin rash, itch and eruptions, simply because it U nature s most marvelous remedy. Get a 50 cent box of Stuart s Calcium Wafers at any droir store and you won't Know wnat to do wttn your stock of hair arowlna' ointment, srease. etc. Send for a. free trial package of these wonder workers. Free Trial Coupon F. A. Stuart Co., 343 Stuart Bldj., Marshall. Mich. Send me at once, by re turn mail, a free trial package of Stuart's Calcium Wafers. Name , . . , Street..., J , OHy. ........ ...Stat....' Economical, Comfortabte and Enduring Living About The Table here shown in fumed oak; very substantially built; with the end book racks, asvshown, or without; top, 28x48 . Price $16.75. The LamD is done in the "New" heavy bronze metal base and onvz fiorured: class shade, with bronze open work decoration. Price $14.75. The Rocker shown has either leather or tapestry auto seat: roomv and structed. Price, $10.75. Th Straight chair to match, $10.75. The Davenport, in leather or tapestry. Price, $42.50. (There are many 'J!-iiri--m----Pl. fliTT til Hh.i I" 11 it in IflV.: tstl Santur $24.75 Bed Davenports, unifold and duo- -fold lencths. in rrnMan Aolr ti.-.A - -o ' r, " " un, 1 Ulliiy oak and mahogany finishes. Prices range $19.75, $22.50, $24.75, $26.75 and $29.75. Overstuffed LivinV Rnnm IkvennnW W"2J 4UsL- tapestry cover, $29.50. ' Overstuffed Living Room Davenport, tapesiry cover, loose cushions, very deep spring work, $45.00. Overstuffed Davenports, in velours ana tapestries, in the finest examples of luxurious spring cushioning and spring arms. Hairfaced upholstering, from $55, $61.75, $69.75 and up. i This Elegant Dresser, with many visions; known as a vanity case; in black walnut or ivory enamel; 18x40 center mirror. Frice, either finish, $46.75. - Two Dresner snaps ram broken suila: One in tvalmU, $18.50; One in nta- hogany, 119.75. Raymond's Children's Kiddie; good, substantial gifts that last, Tricycle, metal tires, $1.15 to $1.50 Tricycles, rubber tires, $2.15 and up. Wheelbarrows, " 25c, 35c, 50c and 70c Coasters Small, medium large, $1.70, $2.20, $2.45, 1 1 and Up. , . , - Your Fireside similar outfits shovn in all the woods.) $24.75 TMin.lJi -.i.i.m.1111 iu- mi ft m 1. 1 M Library Tables, Sofa Tables A hundred designs Mahogany Library Table, colonial design, $10.75. Fumed Oak Library Table, simple lines, $6.75. Fumed OaF Library Table, heavy, solid quartered oak, $11.75. Solid Mahogany Library Table, Wil liam and Mary design, $22.75. Solid Mahogany Sofa, Table like il lustration, 20 inches wide, 5 feet long. race, 929.75. Black Walnut Sofa Table, like illus-. tration, .18 inches wide, 58 inches long, $24.75. "Bedroom Values" Wood Beds, characterizing all the periods. This one in oak, $13.75. In walnut, $18.75. Mahogany Post Bed, cross beam foot, $18.50. Oak Post Bed, $13.75. Panel End Wood Beds, with steel side rails, $9.50, $10.50, $12.75. Christmas Corner Useful playthings jor every of healthful pleasure. Children's Playhouse Furniture , . Real Cabinet Work Dollie'i Dining Room Suite Ivory E nameled Buffet, with mirror, $3.95. Ivory Enameled China Cabi net, U ins. high, $335. Ivory Enameled Table, 16 ins. square, $2.25. Ivory Enameled Chairs, $1 .25 each. Ivory Enameled Serving Ta bles, $2.25. Ivory Enameled Tea Wagon, $2.75. Doll's Bed Room Suit Ivory Dresser, mirrored, $i. Ivory Chiffonier, mirrored, $i.00. Ivory Wardrobe, 38 inches high, $4.00. Ivory Bed, 26-inch width, $3.60. Ivofy Toilet Table, triph mirrors, $3.20. Ivory Chevalle Mirror, SO inches high, $2.00. and $3.15 id.ii Cc-Crra. from c and I Rocking Horses and Gallonine Hemes , 68c. op to elecant rattan, lasy backs Upholstered. I It was recently said by a visitor in looking over our six salesfbors, "Your Christmas stock is in early and appears large enough and varied enough to sup ply the 'Gift Lists' of everybody." So it is, and composed of the substan tial and beautiful in whole suites and odd pieces for every nook and corner of your home. Gifts that endure and keep green the memory of the giver in after years. Christmas, good cheer and Raymond good furniture mil join hands in a happier "Yuletide" for you. Read the items at the foot of thia ad to the children. Room Pieces durablv con Over Stuffed Rocker and Chairs , to Match, like illns., S22.SO each. A solid Mahogany Rocker, tap estry auto seat, SS.SO. A Solid Mahogany Rocker, velour auto seat, cane panel back, $11.75. Solid Mahogany Rocker, tapestry seat and wide cane panel back a beautiful pair with the chair to match. $10.85 each. This Early Chas. II Seat, in fine old oak, high lighted finish, inset cane seat and back panels. Price, $57.50. Toilet table, triple mirror, as illustrated, in oak, wal nut and mahogany. Prices $13.50, $16.75, $18.75 and $22.50. and give a world Automobile, like illustration, $3.45 Many handsome racers, in blue, vellows, greens and reds; equip ped with guiding wheel, lights and all. Like a regular "Dario Resta" Style. Prices that will please you. Metal Express Wagoi from 60c up. A " $2.05. $2.25, $3.25 and up.