The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-06-26
Big Swedish Gathering Didn't
Discuss Norwegian Trouble.
Both the NatiOnalities We're
Well Represented.
THEY ENJOYED THEDAY
Excursions Came From Kansas
City and Usage City.
An Interesting Programme
Given at Garfield Park.

Twelve hundred sons Of Olaf fra
ternized together at Garfield park the
whole of Sunday. Two-thirds of this
number were from out Of town points,
Kansas City. Kan; Kansas City, MO-
Bonner Springs, and Usage city. me
two Kansas Citys sent special tram
of 500 over the Union Pacific, which
arrived here at shortly after noon and
returned at 8 in the evening Usage
CITY sent UP q. delegation of 300 from
that place and surrounding points over
the Santa Fe. These arrived at $3.50
IN the morning and remained the
whole of the day. The main storm
center of the gathering was of course,
Garfield park, but the excursionists
scattered all over the city. They took
the cars out to VInewood and took in
everything that was to be seen at that
resort, they gathered out around the
Rtate buildings, the state house, the
asylum grounds and other places of
sightseeing worth. The stragglers
were finally rounded up at 4 o'clock in
the afternoon and came back to the
park in tWos and threes.
The gathering OF these sons OF SWe-
den and also of Norway was promoted
by the Swedish American National
League of Topeka a local organiza-
non as YET UuL WHICH IS dLLEEAAO LlAAB u
spread out state wide. The Swedish
American National League has a mem
bership Of about 400 in Topeka, but as
the result Of the meeting yesterday
that number was doubled by the or
gan1Zauon OF branches among the out
of town attendants upon the picnic.
The organization is almost a trust
when 1t comes to the many sided pur-
poses which it fosters. 1t is a quasi
religious, social and political OrganiZa-
ton RF9f evident from the a
that the main aim of the organization
VIII be in time one Of politics. 1t is
founded from a desire to secure better
representation in the division of poll
teal spells that at present is allotted
TO the share Of that nationality. I'VE
expect" said. one of the prominent
members, Ito make this a strong poll
teal organization. We will maintain
headquarters in Topeka and though it
is now only local and was organized
but six months ago, we will establish
branches of the organization all over
the state. You see the Swedish
churches don't take kindly to secret
organizations, so we have this, free to
all and open, to bring US closer to-
gether."
The officers of the league are: C. D.
Danielson. president; Samuel Nygren,
Vlce-presldent; John Lungstrum, Sec
rotary; Louis Hayre, corresponding
secretary and John Nordlund, treas
urer.
A program which had been ar
ranged for the occasion was present
ed in the morning and afternoon with
an interim of three hours at noon for
the picnic lunches which had been
brought out. Those present, came to
spend the day and the lunch baskets
we're well filled in preparation for a
stay lasting from early in the morn
ing until six in the evening. Cole
mans Military band which the Kansas
City. Kansas, delegation brought along
ISL "a
The crowd was very orderly and no
liquid refreshments stronger than
water was offered to the picnickers
In the evening, two of the local SWed-
1sh societies, the Swedish library and
the Swedish Sick and Funeral Benefit
societies entertained some of the Wis
ltors with specially prepared luncn
In the society rooms.
Didn't Talk of Norway.
Throughout the whole day, the en-
crossing subject of Norway's espara-
1ion from the Swedish kingdom, was
strictly tabOOed, for there was q liberal
sprinklfag of NorWegians as well as
SWedes, and here and there was a
former subject of Denmark None of
the set speeches which were delivered
touched on the subject This is what
the hearers said and the reporters
mad to take their word for the speak
ers spoke in their native tongue
In explanation, A. P. Nelson of Kan
sas City editor of the Kansas CITY
Iribunen a Swedish paper, said.
Everything is pleasant now and we
wouldn't want to say anything on that
subject Oh no. and he accompanied
thls latter exclamation with an express
s1ve shrug of the shoulders. Then as
II an afterthought, he added: But
then we Swedes and the Norwegians
nave no feeling about this matter here
IN America We get along nicely and
we nave no spirit one against the
other There are a. few of the Nor
Weglans over in the old country who
are what you call bull headed tbav
can't see things as they should. but
hold right to their own ideas. Swed-
en- is tariff country. Norway has
always been for free trade, and has
had a kind of free trade DOlicv I
think she viii see her mistake after
9ne has tried free trade entirely and
that Norway will come back to the mn
Ion with Sweden again. There will be
no war The separation viii be arbi-
trated."
Several societies from out of town.
local in their nature. were represented
among them being. t'1Tordens .Vanner''
and the "kunskops-F Oreningen." When
put In plain English they take on the
simple form Of Friends Of the NORTH
and Literary and Educational Socie-
". The national society Of ''Swithiod. -
which had its birth on the soil of the
mother country was also represented
The members of the Literary and
Educational Society displayed the
Swedish flag which tapped in the
breeze above the Swedish building at
the Worlds fair in st. Louis and which
was won by that society in a contest