Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1911-02-10
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So far as the actual enfranchise-
ment of women is concerned the first
material gain was scored by the suf-
frage agitators in 1901, when the mu-
nicipal vote was given to the Nor
wegian women on the basis of taxa
ton. This law entitled two-fifths Of
the married and single adult females
to elect city fathers and to vote on
all matters pertaining to the munich
pality. The Norwegian women took
advantage of their right at the three
elections in 1901, 1904 and 1907, the
percentage of women who actually
cast their ballots rising at each sue
cessive election. In fact, it is claimed
that in the two largest cities of the
land slightly larger percentage of
women than men performed their
electoral duties at the last election.
The bill that gave limited municipal
franchise to woman also granted her
the right to election to municipal cor
porations AS a result of this pro-
vision $50 women today are sitting on
the various Norwegian municipal
boards. Co-education probably has
tened the enfranchisement of women
OF Norway, for all schools, from the
kindergarten to the university, are
open to both sexes on perfectly even
terms. One of the first fruits Of
woman's enfranchisement has been
the opening of schools where all
branches of domestic science are
taught. The Kitchen schools" as
they are called, now are maintained
in connection with all common schools,
and here the girls learn cooking.
Separate schools also have been estab-
lished by the state to teach all
branches of housekeeping and to
practically educate the wives Of the
peasants. The more advanced among
the Norwegian women now are agi-
tating for the founding of state schools
where girls will be taught the laws of
health, marriage, motherhood and the
nursery, so that, grown to woman
hood, they will not enter upon the
duties of wife ard mother without
the necessary knowledge.
Just now radical Norwegians are
engaged in an endeavor to pass revo-
lutionary laws legitimatizing illegitl-
mate children. If this law is passed
the father of an illegitimate child will
be required to pay for the support of
the mother for three months previous
to delivery; to settle the childbirth
expenses; to support the mother for
six weeks after delivery and to main
tain the child until it is sixteen years
old; and if he can be proven to be the
father, whether he acknowledges his
parentage or not, it will have all the
rights of legitimate offspring. This
bill, is being pushed by Mr.. j. Cast
berg, who in the last Liberal cabinet
filed the post of minister of justice.
In Norway, as we'll as in our own
country, it seems that it costs more
money every year to run the govern
ment. Of course the country is grow
ing and that may account for it some
what. The appropriation asked from
the storthing for the coming year Is
6,161 geo crowns, or $4,000 crowns
more than was used the previous year.
Three and one-half million are to be
used for the maintenance and in
crease of the navy. Notwithstanding
all the efforts of the peace commission
nearly all the nations are building
more and larger war vessels.
There about 10000 Swedes living In
Cbristiania, more than in any other
city of Europe outside of Sweden.
During the Christmas season one of
the Swedish societies Of that city held
an imposing celebration in one of the
mission houses, at which it is saio
that no less than 1000 Swedish men
and women and about 500 children
were present and participated in the
exercises. They had their Christmas
tree and sang Christmas songs and
patriotic songs.
At present there are forty-nine
steamships under course of construc-
ton in Norway, representing total
tonnage of 3O,155. Most of these
steamships are built for freight pur-
poses There are, however, a number
of passenger steamers that will be
built during the coming summer. Lit
tie Norway has one of the largest
merchant marine fleets in the world.
There is, according to the church
papers of Norway, strong religious
movement on foot in Christiania. 1t is
felt more particularly among the
younger people and especially among
the younger women.