Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-01-08
Men of the PEOPLE in
New Danish M11a1strv

american lines BrdnueS connection
with the new ministry has led to the
charge that ii IS an academic ministry
that 1t Is the government of the
newspaper Politiken." Like Brandes.
the minister of war. Christopher
Krabbe, was a journalist until he en-
tered politics.
The only cabinet member upon whom
a suspicion of "aristocracy' can fall is
the minister of foreign affairs. Scaven-
ius, gentleman OF the middle class
who entered diplomacy. The previous
governments. even the Liberals, have
chosen noblemen for this portfolio-
The minister OF education Is also
minister of the gospel, pastor of tiny
church in the southern part of Sjael-
land His pai-ishloners liked his po-
lltical principles as well as his sermons
and sent him, some years ago, to repre-
sent them in parliament,
Most wonderful of all, perhaps. IS
the career of the new minister OF agri-
culture, Poul Christensen. His occupa-
tlon as a small huSbandman" is II
self an outgrowth of a radical program.
This movement consists in the carving
up of large estates into small plots of
land from half an acre to several acres
In extent which are sold, by aid of Il
government loan. to men who would
otherwise be servants on the large eS-
tates. Mr. Christensen is one of these
small farmers. At one time he eked
out his meaSer living by carving and
selling wooden shoes
In 1890 MIR Chrstensen's fellow
farmers discovered that he could talk
like a clergyman" They elected him to
parliament where he has since iabored
for the Radical cause. returning, how
ever, on Sundays to his little farm.
pROITD OF THEIR POLL
I made the long pilgrimage on n
cycle out to Chrlstensens 1t Is far
from the railroad, in a district called
quiries and many muddy turns to find
the farm. The peasants of whom l
inquired the way, all wore wooden
shoes. and all talked an impossible dia-
lect found they were proud of Our
Poul" though some of them had nor
yet heard that he was a member OF the
| cabinet.
r"Poul Christens." said one old farmer,
| "do l know where Poul Christens lives
Why, ne is our member of parliament.
| He made the wooden shoes I'm stand
| ing in"
The rapidity with which the political
| complexion of Denmark changes IS q
cause of great Joy to the working man.
| Until 1S49 Denmark was an absolute
I monarchy, dS dis 1kuSSidl
In that year she secured q constitution
| and a parliament In two houses In
| 1856 the farmers obtained and held an
| overwhelming Liberal majority in the
| lower house. But the government did
| not become parliamentary. A clause in
| the constitution enabled the king to
make provisional laws the day after
parliament adjourned. In this way
the Conservatives kept the reins Of gov
| tpha hinr- Nrau Z
forced to accede to the formation OF 2
| Liberal ministry. from what may be
| described as the central rather than thC
| extreme left.
Now. after eight years Of experiments
with Liberal governments. Denmark
| has a cabinet selected from the grouI
next to the Social Democrats on the ex-
trcme left. In itself the Radical party
Is a minority and its government thu,
"unparlIamentary." The present dis
tribution of the ia members of tn
lower house. from right to left is, Con
servatlvcs 81; Moderates. %; Reform
Left %: Radicals. 16; four Indepcn-
dents who usually vote with the Radi-
| Gals and Social Democrats "a TIL
Radical ministry depends. for its con
tinuance, on the solid support of tn,
Social Democrats and the partial back
ing of the Reform Left.
| The success of Social-Democracy IN
Denmark Is startling. In 1884 II electe'
| its first member to parliament In 1S9
! 1t had eight members, in 1903, 16. and
I after the last election. "a. or more than
the Conservatives The Social-Dcmn
Gratis desire 10 carry out the program
of the French Revolution. by the com
plcte and Immediate reorganization o.
society. TIC Radicals have the sam
end in View. but are willing TO brnl
IL about gradually The Radicals woul'
gladly have taken Social-Democrat
Into the present ministry but they re
fuse on principle to serve In any cabi
net. until they have majority In pas
lament The Danish Socialists are, fo
all that more practical than thel
German brothers. and they are will'n
to assist the Radical government Il
carrying out practical, IT, In their eycs
too moderate measures OF reform.
OPPOSES MILGTARISM.
The present ministry is opposed {
militarIsm. They think the neutralit