Morris tribune., 1909-02-20
SWEDEN.


It is the first meeting of parliament
since the election of last September
which brought about some important
changes in the distribution of seats
1t will also. in all probability, be the
last parliament elected under the pres
ent restricted suffrage. If the elector
al reform bill passed by the last par
lament receives the approval of this
one-which according to the constitu
tion it must receive to become law
and which there is every reason to be
lieve it will receive-the next parlia
ment will be elected by universal suf
frage on the basis of proportional rep
resentation. This will constitute the
greatest innovation in the constitution
of 1909 since the reforms of 1866
which transformed the four estates
into two elective chambers. Pending
electoral reform. the question OF
woman suffrage will remain in abey.
ance. although the usual motions in its
favor may be brought forward by
fervent advocates in the lower house.
A few days ago the king received
deputation of women, who presented
petition from the Female Suffrage
league. His majesty assured them OF
his personal sympathy with their as
pirations, but reminded them that the
electoral reform bill now awaiting par,
liament's final action had taken many
years to force its way into public fa-
for. When the cause of female suf.
fage had won the equal hold of the
public mind, he would be glad to Civ.
it his support. There can be no doubt
that the movement is gaining ground,
and the day may not be very far off
when parliament will have to deal
with it seriously. 1t may be added
that the Swedish 'suffragettes' COM
pare very favorably with their sisters
elsewhere, and their conduct of the
movement has done much to win sym.
pathy. The president of the first
chamber. Count Spare. having retired
on account of age, Vice President M.
Christian Lundeberg, former prime
minister in the coalition cabinet of
1905, and leader of the conservative
party, has been chosen to succeed
him." .-....
The decision of the Swedish govern.
ment to refer to arbitration the ques-
tion regarding the ancient rights of
Swedish Laps to summer pasturage in
Norway. as was provided by the Karl
stad convention, in case that mutual
agreement was not arrived at, has
been dictated by the necessity of
getting the matter definitely settled It
was found that notes of evidence TAX
en- by the Swedish and Norwegian sub
commission on the spot differed so
widely that the decision to be taken
by, the mixed commission then might
possibly be prolonged indefinitely. 1t
was thought preferable. therefore. to
further delay in order to enable the
arbitrators to investigate the matter
and come to a decision before the
term of the existing agreement was
over. The Norwegian government
seems to share this view of the mat.
ter. Says a recent Stockholm dis
patch: "The commission pursued its
work last year in northern Norway.
This year the Investigations We're to
be carried into northern Sweden. Nor
wegians maintaining the view that the
Laps are able to find pastureage for
reindeers on the Swedish side of the
frontier during the period preceding
June Is. One of the articles of tn.
karlstad treaty confirmed the ancient
right of the Swedish Laps to summer
pasture in certain parts of northern
Norway though il was stipulated that
they should not cross the frontier be-.
fore June Is. The Norwegians main.
talned that to fix an earlier date would
be detrimental to the stationary popu,
lation and in their cultivated lands.
An exhibition of art, handicraft and
industrial art. will be open this year
under the patronage of the king of
Sweden. The idea of the promoters is
to let those carrying on artistic
work throughout the county have
an opportunity of exhibiting the latest
results of their work, so that a gener
al idea may be gained of the present
position of Swedish handicraft and in.
dustrial art. The situation of the ex.
hibition will be an exceptionally beau
tiful one. the king of Sweden having
given permission for it's erection in a
locality in the neighbor-
hood of Stockholm known as the Royal
Park Among the art Industries repre-
sented will be porcelain and glass
work. textile art. goldsmiths' work.
metal work, bookbinding and explana
tions OF the system for teaching art
industry, as well as examples of Sloyd
work.
The King Oscar Jubilee Fund. an
Organization which has been working
with such splendid effect against tu-
cfr IT,, E.aE