Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1902-12-03

5 lot CtrICkCn scandinavia.
New Londou-Nels B. Johnson,
Henning O!ander.
Norway Lake-John J. Week, John
N. Hystad.
Roseland- Mattson, Olof Wa
lin.
Roseville-Archie Pelky, P. I. Pet
erson.
St. Johns-P. G. Greenfield, Lewis
N. Smith.
Whitefeld-Wm. Englund, John G..
Freeberg.
Willmar-A. C. johnson, John o.
son.
Atwater-Martin Olson.
Kandiyohi- S. Sanderson.
New London-Jos. 0. Estrem.
Pennock-E. G.. Freeman.
Raymond-Spencer Erickson.
Spicer-Ne|s Orred.
Citv of Willmar-First ward, J. L..
johnson; second ward, Geo. H Otter
ness; third ward, S. S. Glarum,
fourth ward, J. G. Bjornberg.
The executive committee will short
ly address circular letter to the So
licitors appointed giving general in
formation and suggestions for the
work.
Messrs. Thomas Noodle, L. E. Co.
veil, Eben E. Lawson, Frank Smith
and V. E. Lawson we're appointed a
press committee to promote publicity.
1t is hoped that the movement will
become a general one throughout the
state. A cable message will be ad-
dressed to U. S. Minister W. W.
Thomas at Stockholm today by q
number of leading men of the state,
and when he confirms the reports of
destitution contained in the newspa-
per reports, Gov. Van SAINT will be
requested to name q committee to in
augurate general movement through
out the state.
The stricken district occupies nearly
all of the northern half of the Scandi-
navian peninsula, extending from
about the sixty-first parallel of lati-
tude. The soil in this district is gen.
orally light ana crops are never heavy.
In the southern part of it there is some
fall rye raised, but farther north the
summer is too short for anything but
barley and oats to ripen, and the
latter is very often caught by early
frosts, which generally come in Au-
gust. The early part of last summer
was very dry and the crops therefore
unusually light. Just about ripening
time persistent rains set in, rotting
the grain. Then came early trosts,
finishing the destructive work of the
elements. Small, sprouted and frozen,
the grain is unfit for human food, but
being used to poor fare the people
would be satisfied if there were enough
oft. But the small quantity garnered
is almost exhausted. This, however,
is not all, not even the worst of it as
far as Norrland is concerned. Un-
able to extract living from the soil,
the greater part Of the population has
relied upon work in the lumber indus
try to get money for buying food.
But now great industrial depression
in Scandinavia has reduced this in.
dustry as we'll as many others, and
the people are unable to find work.
Winter set in unusually early. A let
ter from farmer living seventy five
miles south OF Throndhjem, Norway,
dated September 12, states that at that
time the land was covered with snow
clear down to the coast. When the
region nearest the gulf stream and as
far south as that had such an expert
ence we can imagine what must be the
condition farther north and east of the
mountains, where the tempering in
huence of the warm stream is hardly
felt.
Without food, without work to en-
able them to earn a living, with rig
orous winter setting in in September
and lasting as it always does till
April or May, without seed grain when
spring comes, the condition Of the peo-
pie is certainly deplorable. We have
probably not heard the worst yet, for
those are so used to adversely that
they seldom complain as long as they
have q little grain to mix with bark
and potatoes to make bread. But we
know enough to realize that help is
needed badly, and needed soon.