Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1914-03-05
SWEDEN.


The Swedes have been trying to
make history at very rapid rate in
the course of the past few days. On
February about 10000 farmers made
trip to Stockholm to urge the king
to push the work of improving the de-
lenses OF the country On February
s about 10000 workingmen, mostly So
cialists, marched through the streets
of Stockholm for the purpose of pro-
testing against the burdens OF mill
tarism. The king surprised the coun-
try by taking a firm stand in favor of
improving the defenses as soon as
possible. He did this without haV-
ing consulted the cabinet, and the cab
met resigned. The cabinet, headed by
STAFF, represented the liberal parties,
which try to keep military budgets as
low as possible. At this juncture fresh
fuel was added to the nationwide
excitement. Three thousand students
from the leading Swedish universities,
accompanied by bands playing patri-
otto airs, marched through the streets
to the royal palace, where speeches
were delivered assuring King Gustaf
of the students loyalty and devotion
to and their complete confidence in
his majesty during the constitutional
crisis which resulted from the demand,
of the land owners and farmers for
increased ornaments. The king in re-
ply expressed his qualification at the
demonstration and declared the sup
port of the educated youth of Sweden
would be great help to him in his
work for national defense, which has
brought him in conflict with the cab
met. The kings reply infamed the
parliamentary agitation. Stormy
scenes were witnessed in the rigsdag
and violent exchanges occurred be-
tween the opposing parties. The king
asked Baron Gerard Luis de Geer
to form a new liberal cabinet.
But the refusal of the liberals
to accept office compelled Baron de
Geer to withdraw from the task Of at
tempting to form cabinet. Then the
king invited the conservatives to take
control, and it was expected that M, s..
A. A. Lindman, former premier and
minister of marine, would assume the
premiership. But Lindman was afraid
that he could do nothing with the
rlgsdag, and he declined the position
Again the king turned to the liberals.
This time he offered the premiership
to DR.. Knut Hjalmar Leonard Ham
marskjold governor of Upsala, and
member of The Hague court of arbi-
tration. Hammarskjold told the king
that the conservatives ought to take
the reins of the government; but
wishes of the king, and has formed
new cabinet.
The Socialists of Sweden have not
been cowed by the demonstrations in
favor of larger army and navy, and
only few days after the demonstra-
ton of the 10000 small landowners
and farmers, which ! described last
week, 10000 Socialists gathered in
front on the government Offices at
Stockholm TO protest against the pro-
posed increase in the military expen-
ditures, and demanded that the min
listers work for peace and universal
brotherhood, rather than for larger
armies
The premier, NJ Staaf, replied that,
in spite of his deep sympathy in the
matter of international peace. he is
convinced that the Swedish people
would be compelled to make new and
great sacrifices for the defense of the
country. The government, however,
he added. is moi inclined to accede to
the demands for prolongation Of the
service in the infantry until after the
general election.