The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1908-02-13
TRIP TO NORWAY
r. O. Richards Gives an Interesting
Series OF Letters Relating to His
Native Country and its People.
Letter Number Three

Different from the Jew the Scandi
navian intermarries with other races
hence his Identity is quickly lost in
the great multitude of races. Full OF
sentiment and desire for adventure
which seems 10 be in his blood and
each generation fired anew by the
fairy tales fed OH in the youth, the
Scandinavian as rule is, in way, a
restless individual and a natural sail
or; like his half-brother. the Irishman
he is impusive and " i'll go farther for
good money gatheres: but as respec
sentiment than money if his neart is
touched; but as a rule neither are
tive knights of the rail and the sea
they know no fear and are hard to
| beat
Denmark, Norway and Sweden at
present are separate constitutional
hereditary monarchies. At various
times in the past, two and even all
three have been united; but the union
has never been lasting and while they
are near neighbors and friends and
their languages are very similar
their manners, thoughts and customs
somewhat differ and like all surviv-
ing national entities, each is jealous of
it's own traditions. so it would seem
they will do best to keep house separ-
ately in the future after the many un.
successful trials of uniting in the past.
| They have always had as it seems,
| family quarrels among themselves;
| but it is doubtful If any of them would
consent. without fight, to have any
| foreign power take the other. Many
still do great deal of talking about
the separation of Norway and Sweden
but 1t is pleasing to note the courtesy
| and Kindness with which Swede is
treated in Norway or vice versa and
the best of feeling exists between the
Danes and Norwegians, so that this
national antipathy so much heard
| about is only skin deep and its al
|
an evidence of individual puerile hu.
man nature.
The royal succession is in direct
| male line in the order of first born.
In default of male heirs, in Norway,
the King may propose his successor to
the Congress (Storthing) and this as
| sembly has the right to nominate an
other, if it chooses. ....
The Constitution of Norway adopted
| May II, 1914, and patterned after the
| French and American, vests and legis-
lative power iii their Congress (Stor-
thing). The King possesses a limited
right to veto laws passed by the Con
gress. This royal veto may be en-
ercfsed- twice: but IL the same bill
passes three Storthihgs formed by
separate and Subsequent elections. it
becomes the law of the land without
| the consent of the King.
The King has command of the navy
a,d ARMY and makes all appointments
| but with few exceptions cannot nOmi.
nate anyone but Norwegians to office
The Congress meets every year
Elections take place every three years
when 1913 representatives for Stor.
thing are elected. 50 from the rural
districts and only Al from all the
towns. From this will be seen that
the farmers of the country control the
government. The Constitution pro
yides that to every one. representative
from the towns. there must be two
from the country, SO the Constitution
makers safely anchored the control
OF the national government in the
hands of the rural districts.
Upon meeting. the Storthing goes
into committee of the whole and
then and there dominates and elects
onefourth of its members into an Up
or House G.agting), the remaining
members being organized into the
Lower House (Odelsting). each body
choosing its own president CUES
tions relating to laws must first be
considered separately by each house
but If the measure fails i'm one
branch, it may Vet pass by the re
CURED two-thirds vote upon the fna
Joint ballot. which vote must be taken
before bill is finally disposed ui, il
case Of its previous failure n either
House.
King Haakon. The Seventh. seem.
to know the art of popularizing him
self With his subjects and the Norweg
iau7 are proud OF him. He is frequent
is seen in civilian clothes and derb,
hat walking or riding in the street.
OF thristiana. He is fine intelli
2nutooking YONG man, erect anC
p"fuaps six feet tall rather thin
in flesh and about ~ years old, mod
est affable and democratic. One
/. seldom converses with a Norwegian
here who, upoG learning that you are
!. a foreigner, does not in the course o
his remarks refer to the new Kins
with apparent air OF national pride