Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1907-05-02
Recent Occurrences of Interest
in Sweden, Norway and
Denmark.
FATE OF FRANCHISE QUESTION
People OF Sweden Will Soon Know
What Parliament Will DO in
the Matter.
SWEDEN.
Stockholm

Says Mr.. Hugo Nallent1n, the wei
known Stockholm correspondent: The
Swedish people are now approach NJ
the moment when the fate of the
franchise question at this session OF
parliament will be settled. As you
know the proposal made for the set
tlement of this problem by the pres
ent government the conservation min
istry Of Mr.. Lindman, is a system
of proportional representation in both
chambers combined with a change in
the constitution of the first chamber.
This system Of proportional repre-
sentation by which the conservative
party seeks to preserve the growing
democracy is the kernel of the whole
proposal. 1t will, while processing to
be a just reform through which all
parties will be represented according
to their strength, be nothing of the
kind. 1t will insure a strong c%onserva-
tive minority i'm the second chamber,
and although the present proposal 50
far is NJ Improvement on former pro-
posalS Of the same kind, as il includes
the first chamber, ii will not change
the appearance of this chamber to
such an extent that ii will balance the
gain the conservatives will make. Yet
it is an Improvement no doubt. Neither
of the two other proposals for proper
tional representation has touched the
first chamber at all. Mr.. Lindman in
PRODUCES the novelty of proportional
representation in the senate as well.
To make this anything but a farce, he
has already been obliged TO Introduce
a proportional elective system in the
bodies which elect the first chamber,
i. e., the town councils in the towns
and county, councils in the counties.
What the result will be is difficult to
fOresee. ! should say that Mr.. Lind
mans proposal will be defeated in the
second chamber by a few votes. The
same will be the case with the so
cialist proposal also. although, of
course, the adherents Of their pro
posals will be much less in number"
The two most prominent singers on
the Stockholm musical comedy stage,
Emma Meissner and Rosa Gutenberg,
will arrive in New York in the begin
ming of June with the plan of making
a short tour through the states with
DR.. Victor Nilsson, of Minneapolis, as
their impresario. AS their program
with one OF two exceptions consists en-
tirely Of Swedish songs and dances
they will principally count upon Swed-
Isl -American audiences, which will
hail them with enthusiasm. They are
both engaged at the Oscar theater In
Stockholm for musical comedy opened
last fall in the presence of King Os-
car and the whole royal family, under
the management of Albert Ranft, the
George Edwards of Sweden. The
two charming ladies are the f~avorites
of the public and when they appear
the theater is crowded, as for instance
now, when the graceful Mrs. Meissner
sings the principal part in '"The Gay
Widow" which has beer running for
n couple of months with all seats
booked in advance. Miss Gutenberg
Is the happy possessor Of a most beau
tiful voice, which certainly will create
as great enthusiasm among her cOun-
trymen and countrywomen in America
as 1t has lone here. Their visit will
necessarily be a short one. as their
holiday only lasts a couple Of months,
but 1t will contribute to the strengthen
ing of the feeling of brotherhood be-
tween the old country and the new,
which has sprung up Of late years for
the good and the honor Of the people
on both sides.
The winter season in Stockholm has
been livelier than ever. So many din
ners, balls and parties and public func-
lions of every kind have never before
taken place during the winter months.
The good times" have, Of course, had
a great deal to do with it. A lot OF
people have made money easily and
felt inclined to spend it as easily. AL
though of late there has been a de-
cided fall in prices owing to the short
ness Of money abroad and therefore
a lullaby in affairs, still there has
been no crisis here and the dangerous
quarter date has passed without any
serious mishap.
Count de Lagerkrantz, the newly APP
pointed Swedish minister to Washing
ton, ID. c., has arrived in the United
States and is ready to present his
credentials to the president. When
he arrived In New York the other day.
the diplomat said that there existed
much kindly interest for America in
Sweden and that it was the ardent
desire on the part of King Oscar to
establish closer trade relations with
America.
King Oscar seems TIC benefit great
~ through his s~ojourn at the beautiful
seaside resort outside of Stockholm.
He Is, however, still very weak and
the crown prince continues in his posi-
ton as regent. There is very little
chance that the king ever will take
over the reins Of government again.
King Oscar has appointed as uni
versity chancellor Count Frederick
Wachtmelster, a former foreign min
lister, who has lately returned from
q special mission to Turkey In behalf
Of the king 10 present the sultan with