Willmar tribune., 1900-02-28

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The friends Of the union are IN fav-
or of changing the Roros railway from
narrow guage to broad guage, while
those who are in favor of Norwegian
independence first and last and all the
time are opposed to the change. Ro-
ros is a mining town not far from the
Swedish boundary line, and to make
the proposed change would permit
rolling stock from the railroads of
Sweden to pass over large portions
of the Norwegian railways, which are
effectually barred against Sweden ow-
ing to their narrow guage.
Ole Gottenborg, the oldest man in
Valdres, was born in 1899 and died
Jan. 25, 1900.
The first linoleum factory in Nor
way has just been opened up at Ba-
rum.
The national convention of the Lib
eral party has adopted the following
platform, each plank" being so con-
densed as to barely indicate the mean
ing: 1. The independence of Nor
way, realized by means of separate
Norwegian foreign ministry and a
separate Norwegian consular service.
2. Agitation in favor of arbitration
and neutrality. 3. Insurance against
inability to make living, the measure
to comprise the whole Norwegian pee
pie. The above points constitute the
real platform, covering the main is
sues. But number of supplementary
planks were added as guide for prac-
tical work, the main points of these
planks demanding: 1. An opportuni-
ty for farm laborers to acquire land of
their own, and greater facilities for
borrowing money on horses at a low
rate of interest; 2. The removal of
special taxes on agricultural pursuits;
3. Reform of the local laws, includ-
ing the election of the magistrate by
popular vote, and the introduction of
general suffrage in local affairs; 4.
Protection of the political rights and
the right of association of working
men: S. An eight hour day on all
public works, and in employments
which involve danger to life and limb;
6. More stringent immigration laws;
Z. The establishment of sanitariums
for consdmptives; 8. The advance
ment of sobriety by timely reforms of
the liquor laws; 8. Economy in the
management of public affairs, and the
self-pensioning of public officials.
Viggo Ullmann, the president of the
storthing, occupied the chair at the
convention. The representation was
not particularly strong, and the work
of the convention is severely criticized
by many Liberals.
Kristofer Janson has again asked
the storthing for a poets stipend -
He resigned as pastor of the Unitarian
congregation in Kristiania; but still
it is doubtful whether the national
legislature sees fit to spend any money
on him.
Some good Norwegians are so ex-
ercised over the language quarrel as to
declare that if it is kept up indefnite-
ly, it will practically split up the Nor
wegian people into two hostile ma
tions.
About 1000 school children in Kris
tiania are dined at public expense this
winter.
Edmund Gosse, the English poet,
wrote the following in the album of
Anna Bjornaraa, at Vik, Satersdalen: !:
Here, where within the hollow of the
hills
Immortal song still gushes like a
fountain,
And with it's delicate enchantment
fills
The granite goblet of the topmost
mountain,
I come, the pilgrim of an alien cline,
And Groom a stave with these my
Northland brothers,
Since more than blood-kin is the
bond of rhyme,
And sisters were our ancient Muses.
mothers.