The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1914-03-21
BRIEFS FROM OLD COUNTRY
Interesting Items From the Three
Great Kingdoms Of the North So.
ieoted for scandlnavIans and
Their Descendants.
BY MARTIN w. oDLAND.
Norway.

social and industrial conflict which
has ever threatened the country.
Several months ago a strike broke
out at -four mill, Piene's mill, a
short distance north of Drautheim. at
q place called Buviken.
The whole matter hinged on the
question of an unpopular foreman, and
after the strike had started Mr. Piene
retained his foreman and engaged new
workmen, unorganized strikebreakers.
This led to blockading and rioting dur
ing which one Of the strikebreakers In
self-defense shot and killed a striker.
The mill was then boycotted and the
trouble reached a state where the or
ganization of the employers and fac
tory owners took hand In the pro-
ceedings.
A lockout was threatened II the or
ganized workmen did not raise the
blockade against Pienes mill, and as
the threat had no effect a local lock-
out was put into effect and the ma
tional organization OF employers pre-
pared monster lockout all over the
country which involved more than
10000 workmen.
The daily loss OF wages and profits
was calculated to amount to more
than 100000 crowns. which, for this
country, would be equal to national
calamity. Counter strikes were also
threatened by the labor organizations,
when the government appealed to
Thomas Heftye, the director OF tele-
graphs and telephones, to attempt to
arbitrate between the warning fac
lions.
Mr.. Heftye accepted the commission
and Immediately went at the question
in practical way. He travelled to
Buviken, Intercepted the striking
workmen, as well as the mill owner
and his people and in this way gained
a thorough knowledge Of the whole
question. Upon his return to Chris
tiania he called together the repre-
sentatives of the employers and the
workingmen's national organizations
and after a prolonged session he an
nounced that the terms had been
be accepted by both parties. The big
lockout which was to have gone into
effect will thereby be avoided and the
greatest industrial conflict in Nor
ways history has been solved In a
peaceable manner
Mr. Heftye, who has for long time
been one of our most popular men,
has by this transaction become the
nations idol.
The government OF Norway has sig
nified its desire to have the Norwegian
minister at Washington, Mr. Bryn. at.
tend the great 18th Of May celebration
at Minneapolis, and the promoters Of
the celebration feel that this official
recognition by the mother country will
add no little to the prestige Of the oc-
casion. All OF the governors OF states
In which Norwegians reside In large
numbers have been invited to attend
the celebration and most of them will
accept, 1t Is confidently expected. The
committee will also try to secure the
attendance of either President Wilson
or Secretary of State Bryan to repre-
sent the national government. With
thousands of Norwegian-American citi-
zens in attendance, with the govern
ment OF the mother country and the
United States government officially
represented and with several North
western states represented by their
governors, the Minneapolis event will
be by far the greatest event of Its
kind ever arranged in. this country.
A cablegram to the Minneapolis
Journal says that the royal commits
sion appointed in 1912 to consider the
reorganization of the Norwegian diplo-
matte and consular service recon-
mends in its final report the estab-
lishment of a competent business
council to assist the foreign office,
especially In the negotiations of COM
mercial treaties. The commission also
recommends the linking up Of the dip
lomatic and consular service, and COM
petition for which all Norwegians
buOuiu Dc ellBlDle lOT Ill tno pdiu Sit-
uations In the service. 1t Is also sug-
gested that trade organizations should
be consulted as to appointments. The
object of the government Is to
strengthen Norwegian representation
abroad SO as to Increase the openings
for trade and shipping.
A report from Copenhagen says that
information has been received there
that the Norwegian musician and ex-
plorer, Christian Leden, who under
took an expedition into the Hudson
bay region for the purpose of studying
the music and customs OF the Eski-
mos, has met with a serious misfor-
tune. His boat was wrecked In Hud-
son bay where he lost his entire out
Mt Hs was compelled to spend
months in a snow hut, and before he
reached Churchill he suffered the loss
Of his nose and several fingers By
frost