Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1906-06-14
Recent Cccurrer, IS of Interest
in Sweden ARD Norway.
FIRST CHAMBER Is CONDEMNED
Throwing Out Bill for Extending the
Franchise Is Declared To BE
Great Blunder.
SWEDEN.
Stockholm.

CIT. he StltTul oliiiioh III 'hV No""
try, even in circles which cannot be
called liberal. Is that the first cham
Der 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 I'psala came to
Stockholm and marched through the
town to the government Office. where
the prime minister, surrounded by his
cabinet. received them. listened 10
their beautiful singing and their
speeches and himself made great
political speech. This demonstration
collected enormous crowds. The next
Sunday the students Mt 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 special train Saturday
day morning. where. following the ex-
ample Of their brethren at the north
ern university. they marched through
the streets singing and greeted the
prime minister outside the govern
ment office. where the usual speech
crowds and the enthusiasm manifested
were this time even larger than the
week before. Half an hour later. the
same day. the wOrkmen OF Stockholm
gathered In their thousands at their
usual meeting place in the open air
on the outskirts OF the town, and their
leader. Mr.. Branting. made a stirring
speech which was greeted and in
terpolated with loud cheers. All over
the country meetings have taken place,
and in ninety-nine cases out of hun
dred the resolutions passed have ex
pressed sympathy for and adherence
10 the government franchise bill. But
the first chamber neither sees nor
hears. Perhaps their eyes and ears
will he opened after new elections hav-
ing confirmed the will Of the people,
but perhaps only stronger methods
first chamber give way next year I
doubt that anything short OF gen.
eral strike will be able to bring II 20
fits senses. 1t will he an unpleasant
experience for everybody. but I fear
that II cannot be avoided. As to
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: n it wants to govern with
the classes or with the masses. Even
the worse enemies OF the first cham
her 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 $50 senator's 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 II and.
while protesting TO have the wish to
give an extended franchise to the peo-
pie, voted for system Of proportional
representation moved by one of their
own party. which for its only aim had
to consolidate the power of the con
sentative 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
thought that this action would 80
have aroused popular feeling that dis
turbances would have followed. hut
that was not the case. The capital
was as quiet as on any ordinary day.
The streets did not present any un-
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 Mt
Athens returned to Stockholm May a.
in the evening they were rendered
reception and banquet. which was at
tended by the crownprince. Prince
Gustaf Adolph. and Prince Carl and
Prince Eugen. The crownprince de-
livered toast for the Swedish
athletes and Major Balck responded.
About 300 guests attended the func.
ton. which was was splendid sue
cess in every respect
Mime. Christine Nilsson Countess
SIiranda), the prima donna, has ar
rived In Stockholm. Her sojourn at
AK, France, has been indefinitely
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
GiIlander, was found dead the other
morning at Hotel Monopol. on st.
vattu street. 1t Is thought that the
cause Of his death was heart failure.
He left a note In his room stating
that he had come home to his native
land to die.
About 200 young socialists attempted
to give a demonstration a few