The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-04-04
|SWEDEN'S KING IS OBJECT OF ATTACK
 BY SOCIALISTS
Gustaf's Speech on Increas- ed Armament Made in
 Face of Warnings
Two Parties Against Grown Tn Elections Now Being
 Held Through Nation

stockho1rl, April 41The election of a new Swedish parliament is in full swing with a tremendous wave of popular .claznor for a stronger nsa-s ffonals defense aroused by fears of Russian aggression. Two parties Conservatives and Liberals make this the dominant issue of the cam. psiEn but beneath this is question: deemed by socialists as even more pregnant with immediate consequen- ces than the possibility of invasion. IL In declared in some quarters that the kings crown is at stake
 The point is that, while the demand for stronger national defence has stir red the whole naafon, some classes are annarenflv still more concerned in defending themselves against an ex- cessive exercise of power by their king. Gnstave "
 The crisis on this point was drought about by the kings speech to a fhrong of 30.0oO peasants who. gathered in Stockholm from all parts nf The country on February as 2 Characterization in favor of increased arnnaments. The king told the peas rm4s that the probIe1n of defense was nne which must sbe solved without loss of time. and on that point he would not yield
 KING IGNORED WARNINGS
 The kings speech was made in the face of warnings from the crown prince and Prince Charles, and, in deed. from a number or seonserya and liberal party leaders Thes queen and some of the kings personal friends. however advised his majesty to make the speech as <ora E1na1ly drawn up, and their counsels preyaii- ed-
 The ministers forthwith resigned. They contended That as a constitution- al monarch the king should not make political speeches without ascertain7 ! ing If the cabinet approved ofx them ! The king replied. T cannot agree fo this; I will not deprive myself of inc right to speak without restraint t0 rhe Swedish people "
 pr Knut Ham n1arsk5oeId was in Tifed to form a new ca bfnet with him eeaf as premier and minister of war, but d s his adherents were in the naiEs norjfy fn the second chamber there was no chance of. the defence bill be-, corning law.
 ISSUE BEFORE PEOPLE
 Parliament therefore was dissolv ed. and the issue placed before the people The result is that the whole country is torn with the question of 11iflitarzsna and nstftutfonahs hsun.
 The R7ksdag just dissolved consist ed Of 101E liberals. consesyative res T and s 64ssecial deInocTatss
 The defense rroposa1s upop which
 
 support of the voters are. according to minutes of the cabinet meeting, as follows.
 For army drill there. will be z5o SC days Students and similar per- sons are to serve longer time, but not more than 800 days.
 f'The navy is to consist of two dfvis- ions. each composed of four armored sh1psy four divisions of destroyers,
 
 of submarines An aeronautfc fleet 1@ to be organized.
 The expenses will be paid by a pro- gressfve defence tax on big fortunes and incomes, which Is to be set aside solely for military purposes-
 The minutes concluded with the following declaration by the king:
 tsOn the solution of this question, 50 vital for this nati on,s depends. the possibility of preserving our liberty and fndepend ence and defending our neutrality
 GROWN VERSUS PARTIEs
 The proposals do not difrer greatly from the program of the liberals The socialists. however, are not only de nanding reduction of expenditures $ for army and navy, but have definite ly decided to make the establishment of a republic a plank in their plat form The conservatives are draw ing the person of the king into their contest and the fight is plainly be Z tween the crown, represented by them, and the other two spartie
 Socialist assertions that King Gus tawe assumed powers not granted by the constitution, have drawn from him .f the following declaration:
 Fl declare that every desire and ef. fort i'm the direction of personal re- gal power has been, is. and will be alien to me. I have hitherto per- < formed my royal duties zin accord ance with the order and spirit of the fundamental law and in fidelity to n1y device. With the people for the ia fherland- never will depart from my determination to do so in the flu. ture