Morris tribune., 1906-06-16
Recent Occurrences of interest
in Sweden and Norway.
FIRST CHAMBER Is CONDEMNED
Throwing Out Bill for Extending the
Franchise Is Declared To Be a
Il Great Blunder.
SWEDEN.
Stockholm.

Says Hugo Vallentin, the Mime
apolis Journals Stockholm correspond
4ent: 1.-The general opinion in the coun-
try, even in circles which cannot be
called liberal, is that the first cham
her has acted unwisely and popular
feeling has in many ways manifested
itself in that direction, even before
the bill was discussed. Thus some
weeks ago about 1000 students from
the University of Tpsala came to
Stockholm and marched through the
town to the government office, where
the prime minister, surrounded by his
their beautiful singing and their
speeches .and himself made a great
political speech. This demonstration
collected enormous crowds. The next
Sunday the students at the University
of Lund followed suit. Lund is in the
south of Sweden and whole nights
journey from Stockholm. But that
didn't matter. Hundreds Of students
chartered a special train Saturday
night and arrived in Stockholm Sun
day morning, where. following the eE-
ample Of their brethren at the north
ern university, they marched through
the S+rcets singing and greeted the
prime minister outside the govern
ment Office where the usual speech
making took place. If possible the
crowds and the enthusiasm manifested
We're this time even larger than the
week before. Half an hour later. the
same day. the workmpn of Stockholm
gathered in their thousands at their
usual meeting place in the open air
on the outskirts Of the town, and their
leader. Nj Granting, made a stirring
speech which was greeted and in
ferpolated With loud cheers. All over
the country meetings have taken place
and in ninety-nine cases out Of a hum
dred the resolutions passed have eX
pressed sympathy for and adherence
TO the government franchise bill. But
the first chamber neither sees nor
hears. Perhaps their eyes and ears
will be opened after new elections hav-.
ing confirmed the will Of the people,
but perhaps only stronger methods
will have their effect. Should not the
first chamber give way next year
doubt that anything short of a gen
era1 strike will he able to bring it 30
its senses. It will be an unpleasant
experience for everybody. but I fear
that it cannot be avoided. AS to a
dissolution Of parliament taking place
this year. that rests altogether with
the king. The next few days will
show what course the crown intends
to follow: if it wants to govern with
the classes or with the masses. Even
the worse enemies of the first cham
Der could not have wished them to
commit a greater blunder than when
on MAY IA they threw out the moder-
ate bill for the extension of the
franchise which the Staff cabinet
had placed before parliament. Among
the 40 senators only eighteen could
be found who believed that the only
way to solve this vital question Of
Swedish political life was to accept
the franchise proposal of Mr. Staff
The rest went solidly against it and.
while processing to have the wish to
give an extended franchise to the peo-
pie, voted for q system of proportional
representation moved by one of their
own party, which for it's only aim had
TO consolidate the rover of the con
eervative and reactionary party. After
few hours debate they were ready
to say that they did not trust the ma.
jority of the nation, and that they
found that the power ought to rest
where it was. One would have
thought that this action would SO
have aroused popular feeling that dis |
turbances would have followed. but
that was not the case. The capital
was as quiet as on any ordinary day
The streets did not present any I'M
usual appearance, and the crowds out |
side the house of parliament did not
amount to more than perhaps 200
curious and comparatively Indifferent
sightseers."
The Swedish athletes who partici- |
pated in the Olympian games at
Athens returned to Stockholm May A. |
in the evening they were rendered a |
reception and banquet, which was at
tended by the crownprince, Prince
GtIstaf Adolph, and Prince Carl and
Prince Eugen. The crownprince de-
lfveced a toast for the Swedish |
athletes and Major Balck responded |
About 800 guests attended the func- !
ton, which was was a splendid sue
cess in every respect
Nine. Christine Nilsson Countess
Mfranda), the prima donna, has ar
rived in Stockholm. Her sojourn at |
AK, France, has been indefinitely i
postponed on account of the critical |
illness of an older sister. Nine. Nils
son lives most of the time at her old
home in Vexio, in Smaaland.
A Swedish-American named Petrns
Gillander, was found dead the other
morning at Hotel Monopol, on st. |
Vattu street. It is thought that the I
cause of his death was heart failure