Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1915-10-09
az EpeAR ANsEL MoWRER,


on Switzerland as follows:
The interest of Swiss history must
not be measured by the size of the
country This little country holds a
very important place in the history OF
contemporary European institutions
To whoever desires to understand the
evolution Of our modern democratic
society, this history may be recon-
mended as the most instructive selec-
ton of examples OF the application of
the principle Of popular sovereignty.
Foreigners who know Switzerland,
with or without having visited it, as a
country of tourists hotels. mountains.
picturesque chalets, mountain rail
roads, glaciers, milk chocolate. St.
Gall embroideries, cheese and refugees
for revolutionists. may be pleased to
know that Of all the people of Europe
the Swiss have. historically, been the
most belligerently tenacious of their
independence and that they are today
the people who have gone farthest in
the realm of popular government
The initiative" has been general
since 1913. and the referendum" CON
sdered a most radical, modernist
measure. came in about the same
time. Proportional representation
was adopted by the Italian canton OF
Ticino as far back as 1891.
German Element Is Strong.
The Swiss confederation counts to-
day approximately 3450.0OO inhabi-
tants, of whom about 100000 are Ital-
ian by race and language, 750, 900 con.
slider themselves French and the re-
naming $500. 900 speak German Thus
the German element is by far the
strongest numerically and the most
important 1t can control In fedora
tive political matters. The French
cantons, with the important centers of
Geneva and Lausanne and their excel
lent newspapers, play intellectually a
role somewhat beyond that presumed
by their numerical inferiority. The
Italian element is relatively insight
iicant. although one of the most bril-
liant of the government ministers,
Sig. Motta, comes from the Ticino
SO much by the way of prelude to
n presentation of Swtzerand's posi-
ton during the present great war.
AT the beginning of hostiltles the
French and italian cantons manifest
ed a sturdy but inott"nsive sympathy
for the allies. The German cantons.
80 the contrary gave vent to single
strong burst of Germanophilia. have
not taken account of the individuals
whose sympathies are always with the
side uppermost
Today, though by stages so imper,
ceptiblo that they cannot be traced.
the situation has become different.
Here in Romansh Switzerland the pop,
ulation is still overwhelmingly pro
allies. There is little German in the
streets or in the stores As soon as
Italy entered the war the Ticinese
pronounced for Italy 1t is not an ex.
aggeration to say that. notwithstand-
ing the German speaking majority.
there are now in the country as many
open adhcrents OF the allies as of the
Austro-Germans This means that a
large number of persons who speak
German favor the nations of the quad
ruple alliance, particularly France.
Swiss Industry Badly Hurt.
But a new economic problem has ap-
peared and is forcing people TO face
It squarely Switzerland. accustomed
In time of peace to derive considera-
bic profit from it's fine scenery and its
central position. u0VA pays heavily for
the latter a large proportion OF the
national army has been moMnred al
considerable expense and kept Under
arms since August 1914. Industry is
suffering. The foreigner comes but
rarely to the countless hotels. which
stand bleak and deserted like SO many
gigantic mausoleums Only few.
homeless individuals from foreign
parts loiter i'm the strects-few Inv
comparison with former years. Even
the eSiled revolutionary has Quit the
little country where he for SO many
years found sanctuary A few iron
tier towns are ceuters OF espionage
and intrigue. That Is all. The SIM
rises alone over the glaciers fair des.
olation. There are ne tourists SHY
ering with cold and delight to welcome
his upcoming or to turn away 70 hurry
down the last slope homeward as he
sets behind tho purple mountains
The country suffers from tho loss
Of tourists. But most Of all il suffers
FROM thu bonds and restrictions with
which the warning nations. and chiefly
those which command the sea. are
endeayoring TO correct &. During a
year the strings nave heen drawn
ever tighter ava tighter. Because she
lacks Sept switzerland can