Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1902-06-20
SCANDINAVIAN NEWS
Interesting Notes From Across the
Ocean.
HAPPENINGS IN THE FAIHERLAND
Principal Events That Have Occurred
In h Old Countries About the
North Sea Within a Week
OF So Just Past.
SWEDEN.

SWEDEN.
Some of the most correct statements
made in the riksdag on the subject OF
the sentiments and views of the more
intelligent people of Sweden with re-
gard to increased political privileges,
were those of Mr.. Moberg, a member
of the constitutional committee. The
statements are none the less valuable
because they were issued several days
before the beginning of the great na-
tional strike. The folio wing extracts
clearly shows the trend of Mr.. Mo-
berg's reasoning: "The e~ver,growing
conviction, in u country, of the ne
cessity of satisfying, as a means Of
maintaining public peace, the demands
for general suffrage, as well as other
events of recent date, especially the
solution of the question of the de-
lenses by the last riksdag, compel me
to believe that a more conservative
view of the matter must give place to
the conclusion that we should, before
it is too late, save the peaceful, natural
development of our people and country
from the dangers that Turk in a resist
ance which, in the course of time, may
be broken, extending the reform to
undue preparations, which may be pre-
vented by yielding, as far as possible
to the political demands of the people.
Political suffrage, as far as I under
stand it, is only an arbitrary public
privilege which depends upon practi-
cal insight, intelligence, and a public
spirited bias of mind. But when the
masses of people rise above the one
sided drudgery of bread-earning and
by personal sacrifices in the interest of
the state to learn to take a more direct
part in its life, we are justified in as
Stunning that their interest in the af-
fairs of the state increase, and that
their ideas of the needs of the state be-
come clearer. To a healthy develop
ment of society, therefore, it is of the
greatest Importance that this growth
be accompanied by an extension of the
political rights, and that particularly
those persons who r obliged to de-
fend our country should feel that they
are enjoying all the rights of a citizen,
that they are responsible for and en-
joy the prosperity of their country.
From this consideration and from a
conviction that the self-sacrifcing gen.
erosity toward our country should not
be mingled with modification over an
obscure position in that country, l am
forced to conclude that under our
present conditions, our political stu
alton demanding strong military de-
lenses based On general CONSUMPTION,
the proper solution of the suffrage
problem is general suffrage"
The commercial college has ex-
planned it's negative vote on the prop
osition to have the government pur-
chase the Norrbotten ore lands, and
the main points made by that body
are given below. The proposition in
cludes a clause which provides that
the present owners of the property
shall lease it from the government.
But if they do not mine ore during
the whole period covered by the lease,
the state will not be able to collect
the purchase price within the stipula-
ted time. The financial standing of
the companies owning the property
is far from ~reassuring, and they are
unable to furnish sufficient guaranty
that they can satisfy the contract. In
a few words, the purchase of the
property would be a risky piece of
business. The chief aim of the plan
is to prevent the property from being
exploited by foreigners. But even
this may not be accomplished. If the
companies leasing the property are
indebted to foreigners, the latter may
WELD as much influence upon the af-
fairs of the companies as though they
were stockholders. Besides, in order
to accomplish the purpose Of the pur-
chase, the government would have to
buy other mining interests in Norr-
botten, which at present would be a
very questionable affair.
Over 1000 Stockholm women who
represent the different walks of life
have signed a petition to the riksdag,
It is very brief, and it's main point is
contained in this sentence: where
as the question of the extension OF
the voting franchise is a public issue,
we, the undersigned, women who re-
side in Stockholm, hereby express our
desire to obtain the right to vote on
political questions" There was NO
time for canvassing the country dis
tricts for names, but a similar petit
ton from Gothenborg was signed by
1,4S7 women.
The railway department has decid-
ed not to employ ladies as surgeons
in that department.
Two congregations in Malmo have
resolved to keep their church build
ings open certain hours on week days
for the benefit of people who may
wish to step in and worship a few mo-
ments in silence.
Paris, May 14.-King Oscar gave a
dinner yesterday in honor of the
crown prince and crown princess OF
Denmark and Prince Christian. In.
vitations had been extended to the
ambassadors Of Sweden and Norway,
Spain and England.
The stockholders of the Ystad and
Eslof railway company have received