Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1901-07-10

Nfels Bransager, a Danish Journalist.
recently interviewed s. A. Hedin for the
Copenhagen Politiken. Mr.. Hedin, the
aged chief of the liberal elements in
Swedish politics, has been chained to his
sick bed a good deal of the time for years
past, and when he began to speak to
Mr.. Bransager the latter scarcely under
stood him. But gradually the words be-
gan to flow more freely, and when he
finally ceased to talk, had spoken for
two and half hours. Mr.. Hedin is not
IN sympathy with the politics of the
great powers, yet his idealism is as pro-
nounced as in his younger days. At first
MS remarks spanned the world, then he
gradually passed over into the politics of
his own country. Even Mr.. Hedin sup
ported the army reorganization bill, and
his justification Of such a course Is given
In his own language: You know that
Russia's policy towards Finland has
changed public opinion in our country
1t is claimed that Russia intends to use
Finland as a basis for an attack upon
Sweden. The classification OF Finland Is
a preparatory step. AS long as Finland
has Finnish government and Finnish
officials it might be dangerous to use it
as a basis of attack. On the other hand
Russia entertains a certain suspicion of
Sweden. This suspicion is, Of course, ut
terly unfounded. God knows that no man
in our country thinks of attacking Rus
STA. So I agreed to the reorganization of
the army In a critical moment we can
not exist by dint Of our military force.
But during the past thirty years have
often returned from the capitol building
on Riddarholmen with weeping in my
heart on account of our wretchedness.
Our present condition is absolutely pitia-
BILE. Then came motion that offered
way out Of the absurdity and 1 thought
I ought to accept it. The army reorgan-
ization bill might have been better, I
admit that. But training >of eight
months may accomplish much ifNproper-
ly used. Our present military training
has run us into sham and pedantry up to
our ears. A few days ago l read some
instructions to the cavalry before the
riksdag. It was sheer insanity, perfect
mad-house prattle. Next day one Of our
ablest officers came to me to inform me
that in his division no attention was
paid to those Instructions Mr.. Hedin
next spoke of the means of increasing
the receipts of the government to meet
the increased expenses necessitated by
the reorganization Of the army: Among
the new taxes progressive income tax
has been mentioned. It Is said to be IA
vOred by the members of the first cham
Der. Well, their tongues are somewhat
timber just now, but who Knows how
long this will last? We have something
called extraordinary promises, that is,
promises made at special session of the
riksdag. If I were to make a brutal
translation of this I would say that they
are promises given with the intention
that they shall never be kept. The ex-
pected income tax is resting on prom
Use of this kind. In my opinion we shall
have to put up with higher taxes on the
necessaries of life. And we shall no
doubt hear of hypocrisy and the moral
Importance of the liquor taxes"
A timely discovery. A Smaland farmer
dug and rooted in the ground Of his fam
lily homestead as best he knew, but he
did not succeed in satisfying himself as
farmer. He finally concluded that his
farm was not a good one and told a real
estate man that he wanted to sell it.
Shortly afterwards he read in newspa-
per about a very desirable little farm
which could be bought for consider
ably less than it's real value. The
advertisement struck his fancy, and
he went to the real estate Office as
prospective purchaser. The clerk at the
office, who did not know his customer,
gave a glowing description of the proper
ty, and when he finally stated the exact
location of it the farmer exclaimed with
enthusiasm, "Why, it's my farm; I never
knew it was such good farm until now,
and I'll never sell it!''
The great carnival of the Swedish Press
Association, which took place at Stock
holm and lasted whole week, was not a
financial success. The total receipts
amounted to tens of thousands of dollars,
still the surplus is scarcely worth men,
tioning. The managers are criticised be-
cause the arrangements were too expen-
sive. The temporary seats at the rae
ing course, for instance, cost over $4,000,
and it is observed that in case of rainy
weather this would have been almost a
total loss.
Count Tn. Adelsward, Of Atvidaberg,
was married the other day. Besides in
viting large number of guests to the
wedding he caused 5000 sandwiches, 1000
bottles of liquor and several barrels of
beer to be distributed among the common
people.
The city of Gothenburg will soon have
school for boys and girls in which the
system of co-education will be carried
through in every class. Bishop Rohde, of
the diocese Of Gothenburg, in an address
given at the commencement exercises at
the Kjellberg school for girls, made
violent attack upon the school first men,
toned, and warned all mothers against
sending their children to the new school,
The liberal press parades this incident
as proof that the public schools ought
to be wholly emancipated from the in
fluence of the church
Crown Princess Victoria is by no means
we'll. She is losing flesh, and her lung
catarrh is more extensive than before.
Her physicians have recommended the
sea breeze, and she may spend the month
of July on the pleasure steamer Drott
i Acetylene gas will be used at the light
house in the harbor Of Marstrand. This
will be a new experiment in Sweden.