684 THE AMERICAN-SCANDIN AVIAN REVIEW 
Sweden 
The result ot the plebiscite by which Sweden defeated total prohibi¬ 
tion came as a surprise both to the friends and the opponents of the 
measure. The former had been sure of victory with a majority of at 
least 60 percent. The latter regarded it as probable that perhaps 58 
percent of the whole electorate would vote “yes” and pinned their hope 
of defeating prohibition chiefly on the likelihood that in any case it 
would not be possible to muster the 50 percent of male votes necessary 
to have the matter brought before the Riksdag. C| The vote showed 
that the temperance forces were not so strong as either they or their 
opponents had imagined. Or rather, the extremists were not so strong 
as expected; tor the ranks of the “antis” were swelled by many decided 
temperance workers who felt that total prohibition would not be prac¬ 
tical as a means to gain their end. The male vote against the proposed 
law was nearly 60 percent; the female, 42.7. ^JA survey of the vote 
in various districts shows that the cities and coast regions were over¬ 
whelmingly against prohibition, while Xorrland, Dalecarlia, and cer¬ 
tain parts of Varmland and Smaland where the religious dissenters 
are strong, were for it. tj This decision removes the question of total 
prohibition from lue order of the day for some time to come, but the 
prohibition forces have announced their intention of carrying on the 
fight. In view of the marked regional division of the votes, they have 
thrown out the proposition that the liquor question be made a local 
issue, so that the districts which showed a marked sentiment for prohi¬ 
bition could introduce it locally. On the other hand, the friends of 
moderate temperance have expressed the hope that now all forces 
would unite in a campaign of education instead of force. The well 
known Swedish-American, Mr. Charles S. Peterson, of Chicago, has 
visited Sweden in the late summer, spending most time in Stockholm 
and Goteborg, where he has been active in arranging America’s par¬ 
ticipation in the Goteborg Tercentenary Exposition next summer. It 
is expected that the Swedish-American department at the fair will be 
very large and that it will include the history of the Swedish settlers 
in America, their art, and their church organizations. Mr. Peterson 
expects that 1,500 visitors to the fair will come from Chicago alone. 
€JIn the autumn of 1918 the canal steamer Per Brahe was lost on 
Lake Wattern with all on board, leaving no trace. The calamity 
gained international significance because among the passengers was 
the artist John Bauer, whose charming fanciful drawings are known 
outside of Sweden as well as in his own country. It was found after¬ 
wards that the boat had capsized. The experts declared it impossible 
to raise the hulk, but some enterprising divers determined to make the 
attempt, and after many efforts stretching over two years they have 
at last succeeded in hauling the boat to land. 
