The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-12-23
COURSE OF POLITICAL
AFFAIRS IN SWEDEN
Despite Recent Reverses, Liberals Under Staas Leader
ship Stick to Franchise Reform Proeram-Split in So
cialst Party The Riksdag Meet Again Next Month
-Noblemen in Trouble--Sea Serpent at Saltsobaden.

So far it has succeeded. A couple Of
weeks ago we had two bye-elections in
Stockholm, one for succession to
member member who had died. and one for q
member who had been made our first
minister to Japan. Both took place
on the same day. In the latter con-
stituency, which is practically work
man constituency, there was liberal
and socialist candidate. In the
other constituency, which is one where
the money classes predominant, there
was three-cornered fght-a conserva-
tive, liberal and socialist. The
last one had not the slightest chance to
pc elected, but was put up only in spite
way to let in socialist in the other
constituency. The result was that the
socialist won in the workmans con-
stltuency and the conservative took
the seat. in the three-cornered fight.
Thus the liberals lost two seats on one
day. -. 2 $40 S@,. =. t1...
Shortly afterwards they lost a seat
IN the country on account of. split,
the liberal vote being divided between
two candidates.. In all these. three
greater than the. conservative, but cir.
eumstances led to defeat. It is to be
hoped that the liberals take the lesson
to heart, 80 that when the riksdag
meets they will show a united front
toward the enemy. - ........' :
Split in the Socialist Party.
All real friends of the labor move
ment, some Of the leaders themselves,
l suppose, the majority of sensible
workers have long deplored the bad
influence which the anarchistic group
within the party has had on the whole
movement. This group, which is
called the young socialists is led by
Hlnke Bergegren, who processes to be q
| socialist, but who, if he is anything at
al but his own apostle, in an anarchist.
not stick at anything as far as talking
IS concerned, but otherwise I do not
know that he has done anything to
bring the movement forward. He and
his faction have many times made the
social-democratic party ridiculous thru
their behavior and-if I may use a
mild expression-thru their bad man
ners;; Their anti-militarist ;propa-
ganda, which has been carried on in
such silly way that it really spoiled
a good cause, the peace movement, and
rather strengthened the chauvinists.
was really the cause of those anti
militarist laws, which Mr.. Staff
brought in and passed thru the last
parliament. But Mr.. Bergegren and
his group also attacks his own party.
or at least the party which he claims
tor his own. He blames the leaders
for taking the parliamentary road in
stead OF making a revolution and over
throwing everything at once. Mr..
Bergegrren's attacks on Mr.. Branting,
the socialist leader, and his ieutenants
are mostly Of personal kind and Of a
most shameful nature, and I suppose
that only the wish for united party
has prevented the leaders from strik
ing back at Mr.. Bergegren and his
Ot late these attacks, constantly re-
peated from the platform and in the
press, have been more than usually
violent: But at last the leaders Of the
soc!al-o emocratlc party have taken
action. They have sent out circular
TO members OF the party all over the
party shall one day vote on the exclu.
sion Of Hinke Bregegren and Mr..
Schroeder Gone of the black sheep) from
the social-democratic party. This pro-
posal has caused a lot of discussion
among the social democrats all over the
country: In Stockholm the discussion
lasted two nights, and the "young
soclahsts> showered insults Of the
vilest kind on Mr.. Branting and the
other leaders, saying that they were
power and seats in parliament. But
the voting showed a decided majority
for putting the question of exclusion
before the party. All the s"com-
munes' in the country have not vet
decided, but am not far wrong if 7
say that there is a decided majority
tor putting this question and that when
it is put Messrs. Bergegren and
Schroeder will be. excluded by an over
whelming majority The result will
then naturally be that Mr.. Bergegri
will form his own party, but I doubt
that he will get together a large one.
Perhaps 5000, against the $4,000 or co.
900 of the present social democratic
party. It seems very wise of the
social democratic party to get rid of
this disturbing element within its own