The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1914-05-21

Prof. Geors Sverdrup, Chairman Of the
Constitutional Convention at Eds
void, May II, 1914, When kristiar
FrederIk Was Chosen King Of Nor
way.
anything about amendments 10 the
constitution itself. Now the storting
claimed hat the amendment was a
part of the constitution, having been
passed by three succe >sive stortings,
while the king maintained that he had
an absolute veto" with regard 70
amendments TO the constitution The
whole nation was aroused. The stOrt-
ing was pittad ~sQuarely against the
king and his Norwegian cabinet The
storting impeached the cabinet, and.
after a trial that lasted more than six
months. three members of the cabinet
were fined 50. 900 each. and the others
were deposed. The King still tried to
thwart the will Of the storting. but
the opposition was so determined that
he had to yield.
Norwegian Cabinet Resigns
At the beginning of this century the
N~orwegians made a demand which
finally broke up the union OF 1914.
They wanted a separate consular serv'
Ice for Norway, chiefly in order 70 ad-
vance the particular commercial in
terests of Norway in foreign coun.
tries. Negotiations were carried on
for years, but the king and the gov
eminent of Sweden could never be
induced to yield TO the N~orwegians
on this point. Finally the Norwegian
cabinet resigned.
Every sound-minded Norwegian felt
that this was a most critical moment.
Instinctively the leading men turned
to the storting, which Johan Sverdrup,
the ablest statesman that Norway pro.
duced In the nineteenth century, had
called the sheet anchor in the hour
Of danger" The storting held a Sc
ret session June 6. 1905, during
which plans for the future we're care
fully laid.
The next day, the historic seventh
of June, was bright and sunny. PEG
pie began to gather around the stort
ing building early in the morning
The doors were opened at 1926
o'clock. Every seat was occupied
Solemn silence reigned. Every wore
could be heard and no words were
wasted.
Dissolve Union With Sweden.
President Berner occupied the chair
Premier Christian Nicholson an
nounced that the cabinet would as
sumo the responsible task.
A resolution was passed to notify
King Oscar III Of what had happened
and to ask him to see that a prince
Of his family be made king of Norway
After a few days the king declared
that no prince of his family should
occupy the throne of Norway.
Premier Nicholson was the moving
spirit in this dangerous drama. ant
SO resolutely did he act that the
Swedes hardly realized what was go
ing on until the union was past his
tory.
To show how poorly the Swedei
understood the temper of the Norwe
gians 1t must be mentioned that the,
asked for a popular vote on the ques
ton. A vote was taken in Norway
August Is and 1t was found that IS.
votes had been asst in favor Of tn,
union and 36S, 2OS against 1t.
Both countries sent thousands o
soldiers to the boundary line ready
for action on a few hours notice
Meanwhile a joint committee met a
Karlstad, Sweden, to settle the de
tails of the dissolution of the union.
Norway abolished her nobility BY
an amendment to the constitution II
1921. The nobility OF Sweden wer,
anxious for war with Norway in 1905
but the king was opposed to blood
shed and a large majority OF the com
mon people Of Sweden could see NJ
reason for fighting the N~orwegians.
Failing In Its attempt to obtain
king from Sweden the storting pro
ceeded to elect Prince Carl Of Den
mark. This was the last act In tn,
drama which put Norway on the foot
ing Of absolute independence which
she had not enjoyed since 1880.