The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1914-05-21
SYTTENDE MAI
IS CELEBRATED
TOOTH ANNIVERSARY OF NOR
WAYS INDEPENDENCE is
CELEBRATED
A BIG CELEBRATION At MINNEAPOLIS
Which is Attended by Vast Throngs
From Nearby States-The Story
of Norway's Early Struggles

Last Sunday, May II, marked the
Tooth anniversary of the independence
OF Norway, and the rise of that coun-
try among the Independent nations of
the world. This event was of much
significance, and was celebrated where.
ever there were people of Norwegian
blood. The principal celebration, of
course, was in Norway, and several
hundred thousand people of Norweg-
ian ancestry journeyed there from
America this spring to be present at
the big event. The Northwest, with
its big Norwegian population, was
keenly interested in the Syttende Mai,
and numerous celebrations were held.
The biggest of these was at Mime
apolis, where over 100, 900 Norwegians
from different parts of the Northwest
gathered. Quite a large number Of
Bookings county people went up TO
attend the celebration, which began
on Saturday and continued until Mon
day night.
The feature of Saturdays program
was a parade participated in by over
5000 and an address by Senator Knute
Nelson. Sunday was the big day and
over 90, 200 were on the state fair
grounds where the program was held.
An address in Norwegian was given
by Rev. II. X. Madsen, and one in Eng
fish by James A. Peterson.
Among those on the speakers plat
form were Governor Eberhart, form
er Lieutenant Governor Rice of VIII.
mar, 4. L. Lobeck, of Breckenridge, L.
Stavnheim, Supreme secretary Of the
Sons of Norway, and a group of sur
vivors of the Fifteenth Wisconsin vol
unteers, the Norwegian regiment" of
the civil war. In the group were An.
drew Burkee of Brandon, Mimi; Elias
Thompson of Bookings, S. d.; Halvor
Larson of Elkader, Iowa, and Johannes
II. Stukke of Chesburg, Wis. Mr.. Rice
also is a veteran of that regiment.
The old battle flag of the regiment
carried by it through three years of
fighting, was displayed from the plat
form while the spectators cheered.
On Saturday a message Of greetings
and good will was received from King
Haaken of Norway, and at Sundays
meeting a reply was sent.
On Monday there were addresses by
Governor Eberhart, Senator Gronna of
North Dakota, II. II. Bryn, Norwegian
others.
The wonderful progress of Norway
in popular government, ever while un-
der a monarchial form of government,
was pointed to by Senator Nelson as
an inspiration to the entire world, in
his address on Saturday. Advance in
commerce, literature and other lines
Of human effort had kept pace with
the political strides, he said. The sem
o'bi N'u Iit hloloiy vi ANol dy
from the middle ages and down
through it's consolidation with Sweden,
and it's declaration of independence
through the adoption at Eidsvold,
with the result that Norway accepted
the Swedish king and the king accept.
ed the Norwegian constitution.
This was a most fortunate and pro-
pitious outcome" said the senator.
The convention at Eidsvold had not
labored in vain. Through it the Nor.
wegian people had awakened to a
consciousness of their political rights
and had worked out their own saliva
ton and had settled that they we're
not the mere pawns of kings. Under
the constitution the Norwegian people
have enjoyed as much freedom and
good government as we enjoy under
the constitution of our federal gov
ernments. The constitution has prov.
ed as elastic, and as capable of meet
ing new and changing conditions as
our w federal constitution, and un.
der it Norway has grown and prosper.
ed as never before in all her history.
"In 1914 the population of Norway
was about 9OO,0 OO. 1t is now about
$500, 900, and in the meantime about
10000 have been contributed to the
population of the United States. Nor
ways increase in material u
and wealth has, in the meantime, far
exceeded the increase in population.
Economically and industrially her
progress. considering her natural re-