The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-08-16
NICHOLSON IS
MAN OF HOUR
Continued from First Page.

And this was no idle promise, for his
versatility is so extraordinary and his
information so wide that he would be at
home in almost any department Of the
government. Trained in the law, ia,
mll1ar with finance, versed in trade and
ence, student of diplomacy and the
law Of nations, as well as Of military
and naval science, he possessed the
ability and the information requisite
for the discharge of the duties Of al
most any department. in the Norwegian
government. In the Hagerup minis
try, which preceded the present one, he
had been minister of finance and when
he formed the new ministry he went to
Stockholm as minister of state. He it
was who placed the designations of him
self and his colleagues in King Oscars
hands when the latter refused to sane
ton the consular service bill He it
was who, when the king refused to ac-
cept them, presented these designations
formally to the storthing on June 6, an
act which led to the "revolution of
June Z.
Norwegian Tactics Clever.
I It needed man Of just the brillian-
cy and forcefulness Of Nicholson to
carry the affair thru SO cleverly for
Norway-for whatever, may be one s
opinion of the merits of the Swedish
Norwegian controversy, there can be no
doubt that the Norwegian politicians
have thus far in the present crisis out
T Tetd came amer Of Sw era Mr M rns
success in bringing about a; practical
separation from Sweden and in running
the government set up by the storthing
so smoothly, has won for him popular
plaudits as we'll as the commentator Of
thinking men. Nicholson is become a
name to conjure by in Christiania.
Successful things are now named 'Ml,
chelsen,' while failures are called
premier. A favorite summer cafe on
the shore of the Christiania ford,
which formerly was called "Dronnin,
| the chime. Miche1sen.' It is the
home of the Royal Yacht club, which
by the way has dropped the "royal -
from it's name and is now known as the
Norwegian Yacht club.
Mr.. Nicholson, like many brilliant
and brainy men, has not the solldlty
and steadfastness Of purpose that mark
rather volatile and restless. However
that may be, he was certainly the man
for the moment and his services to Nor
way will never be forgotten here. 1t is
altogether likely that if a republic of
Norway be the outcome, he will be its
first president.
Nicholson Is Wealthy.
He is a man 4S years old and in his
prime, altho just at present his health
is not Of the best, and he took office in
opposition to the advice of his physi
clan. His birthplace was Bergen, on
In 1c% oh 70 HOY
given Norway many of her greatest
men. Since 1885 he has been engaged
in the shipping business and his house
is one Of the largest and wealthiest il
the country There are no very ricl
men in Norway, the distance between
the richest and the poorest being mucl
less than it is in America or in othe
ters are reckoned here, the premier is
rich man. Before going into the minis
try he served several terms in the stor
thing, where he showed decidedly lib
eral tendencies. His first service Their
was in 1891. --4z
Like other Norwegian leaders, MI
Nicholson is quite approachable and I'm
high a position. In company with Con
sui General Bordewich I was cordial,
received at his official residence. TIL
, substance Of what he told me has al
ready been cabled to T b Journ a
but will be repeated here in more nearl
verbatim form.
The Premier Interviewed.
"There is no political news Jus
now,' he replied to my first INQUIRY
, eve are waiting for Sweden to speal
If she will treat with us, we shall b
pleased to meet her proposals in fai
and. friendly spirit, for we are mos
anxious that, our relations with GU
T friendly
So Hoy IaoS u long will Norway wait 70
ooh, it is difficult to say lust no,
long we can wait. We want to be res
sonable, and do not want to treat wit
other nations until our relations wit
Sweden have been settled. But on
position in the world is most difficult
We have no diplomatic relations wit
other countries and complications wi
constantly arise requiring some channe
OF official communications. The case O
the American arrested at Christensen
: and held for extradition might easil
, have caused serious complications, ha
It not turned out that he was innocen
Under the circumstances he was sc
free without any formality. But extra
] dition cases are only one class of trol
t blesome matters that will necessitate
j diplomatic and consular service for No
d way without delay. So you see, W
9 cannot wait much longer -
t els 1t not necessary for you to r
Y organize your government before asl
J. ing recognitiong' I asked.
b "By no means. The kingdom {
Q Norway is still in existence, as it hf
been for over thousand years. II
e throne is empty, that is ali. It is m
It personal belief that the storthing. Or
y ceeding under the constitution, has II
: power to elect new king.'
l. els there no chance for a republi
then9 The Norwegians Of America a
i eager to see the fatherland under
l. form of government similar to that
their adopted country
! A Republic Is Possible. ri
t. "a, republic is entirely possible. I'll
question, however, must remain, =.
J. allegiance until the more pressing que
I. ton Of recognition, is settled We a
t. going along very smoothly now und
e the present arrangement and we ca
| M of - IL