El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-04-04
SPEECH MAY
COST KING
HIS Crown
People of Sweden in Uproar
Over Threatened At
tack by Russia.
MINISTERS RESIGN;
RIKSDAG DISSOLVED

| - TOCKHOLlM, Sweden, April 4.-The
7 election of a new Swedish parIia-
- ment is in full swing with a ire
mendous wave of popular elamor for
! a stronger national defence aroused by
| fears Of Russian aggression Two
parties, Conservatives and Liberals.
make this the dominant issue of the
campaign but beneath this is a ques-
ton deemed by Socialists as even more
pregnant with Immediate consequences
| than the possibility Of invasion It Is
declared in some quarters that the
kings crown is at stake.
The point is that while the demand
for stronger national defence has
stirred the whole nation some classes
are aDDarently still more concerned
in defending themselves against an
excessive exercise Of power by their
king, Gustave v.
The crisis was brought about by
the kings speech to a throng Of $4,000
peasants who gathered IN Stockholm
from all parts Of the country on FEB
ruary as a demonstration IN favor
Of increased ornaments. The king
told the peasants that the problem or
defence was one which must be solved
without loss of time, and on that point
The kings speech was made in the
face of warnings from the crown
prince and prince Charles, and, indeed,
from a number of Conservative and
Liberal party leaders. The queen ana
some Of the kings personal friends,
however, advised his majesty to make
the speech as originally drawn up, and
their counsels prevailed.
Ministers Resign.
The ministers forthwith resigned
They commended that as a constitutional
monarch the king should not make pO-
litical speeches without ascerta1n1ng II
Of LII
replied: st cannot agree to this;
will not deprive myself OF the right 70
speak without restraint TO the Swedish
people"
DR.. Knut Hammarsk5Oeld was invited
to form a new cabinet with himself as
premier and minister of war, but as his
adherents were in the minority in the K
second chamber there was no chance
Of the defence bill becoming law.
Parliament therefore was dissolved,
and the issue placed before the people.
The result is that the whole country
is torn with the question of militarism
and the constitutiOnalism-
The Riksdag just dissolved consisted
Of -101 Liberals, So Conservatives and 81
Social Democrats.
Demands OF the King.
The defence proposals upon which
the king and his cabinet will ask the
support Of the voters are, according
to minutes OF the cabinet meeting, as
For army drill there will be 250
days and three training periods each
30 days. Students and similar persons
are to. serve q longer time, but not
more than 500 days
The navy is to consist Of two df-
visions, each composed of four arm
Ored ships, four divisions Of destroyers,
each Of four ships, and two divisions Of
submarines An aerOnautic fleet is to
be organized.
The expenses will be paid by a pro-
gressive defence tax on big fortunes
and incomes, which is to be set aside
solely for military purposes"
The minutes concluded with the fol-
lowing declaration by the king:
ION the solution Of this question, SO
vital for this nation, depends the posi-
biltty Of preserving our liberty and in
dependence and defending our neutral.
ity."