The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1897-09-30
SCANDINAVIAN POLITICS.

Result OF Elections Now Pending Likely
to BE of Far Reaching Consequences.
ST. PAUL, Sept. 3O.-John Fittie, one
of the Scandinavians who is prominent
in North Dakota affairs, while in this
city, outlined political conditions in
Scandinavia, and in the course of an
interview stated that the result of the
elections now in progress in Norway
means much to the kingdom of Sweden
and Norway and perhaps to all of
Europe.
"Well informed Scandinavians in the
United States," said Mr.. Flittie, ''are
taking the keenest interest in the prog
ress of the balloting, for it is the gen.
eral impression that a crisis is ap.
preaching in the affairs of the dual
kingdom. An intensely spirited par
liamentary election is on. The last
storthing contained Liberal majority
of four, but it was not large enough for
the passage of the radical measures for
which the Liberals stand.
''It is perhaps generally known that
there has been growing up in Norway
for years a desire tor greater recognition
for the Norwegian side of the nation.
There are about 100000 Swedes and
100000 Norwegians under King
Oscars rule. and Sweden has always
had what we would call in this country
1.-THE long end of the DEAL" The rela-
tions between the two countries grew
more and more strained. A number of
years ago things came to such pass
that subscriptions were started in this
country among the Norwegians to
purchase arms for lErway, but
the Norwegians secured what they
particularly desired at that time "a
responsible ministry of their own.
"The Liberal spirit has been growing,
however, and in the last election the
Liberals carried the city of Christiana
for the first time. There is no nobility
in Norway, but there is an aristocracy
which has always sided with the Con.
servatives.
Elections Cover Long Periods.
"The elections do not all occur on
one day, as in this country, but are pro-
longed over a period of several months.
They have been in progress for some
time, and while it is impossible to pre-.
dict the outcome, it is fact that the
Liberals have captured some seats in
the storthing which they have not be-
fore held. Bribery at the polls is un.
known, but form of 'colonizing' is in
vogue. Voters must own real estate or
pay a certain rental to become legal
electors. To comply with this require.
ment marshes have been subdivided
into picayune lots and given or sold to
would be voters, the so.called 'myr.men.
"Bjornstjerne Bjornson leads the
anti.royalist forces. His eloquence
flashes through glen and valley like the
North light.
liking Oscars voice is for peace.
Bjornson's programme demands a sep
arate diplomatic and consular service,
which would shake the Drontheim
crown from the head of Bernadotte.
War would follow, and the powers, led
by Russia, would intervene and guaran.
tee the autonomy of Norway. It may
come to this. Mutual concessions can
avert it..
Three Children Perished.
ALMA, Neb, Sept. 30.-The farm.
house of A. L. Gordon, five miles from
here, burned during the night. Three
children, aged s, 10 and IL years, who
were alone IN the house, perished in the
| flames.
To Increase the German Beer Tax.