Willmar tribune., 1915-01-20
OF INTEREST TO
SCANDINAV|ANS
News Gathered In the Father.
land and Elsewhere.
LIMITS CITY representation

Country Districts Shall Contribute
Two-thirds Of storthina Membership.
Sweden Already Planning ceIebra.
ton Of Four Hundredth Anniversary
Of Coronation Of Gustavus Vasa.
Belgian Ruler Thankful for Scan.
dinavian Sympathy.
!. !. J. j. !. !. !. !. !. i. !. j. !. i. !. J. j.
:: NORWAY. j.
+ \ J. j. j. !. !. i. \ + !. !. + + + + i
An exchange says: "Now that the
population of the cities and towns of
than that of the rural communities it
is realized how wise the trainers of
the constitution were when they pro-
vided that the rural districts shall
contribute two-thirds and the cities
and towns only one-third of the mem
bers of the storthing. In most consti-
tutional countries the legislative body
is divided into two chambers as a
safeguard or brake The Norwegian
storthing consists of only one cham
what has sometimes been called the
peasants paragraph of the constitu-
ton. At the dissolution of the union
of Norway and Sweden in 1905 this
paragraph necessarily dropped out of
the constitution, together with several
others. Those in favor of it were
afraid that the urban representatives
would fight against the restoration of
this paragraph. But at the earliest
opportunity the government introduce
ed the paragraph in the storthing and
it was adopted by almost unanimous
vote. This, If anything, certainly
speaks of the lofty patriotism of the
average Norwegian politician when he
is confronted with really serious
problem. In this connection it may
not be utterly amiss to call attention
to the terrific howl raised by the press
of Minneapolis and St. Paul when the
legislature of Minnesota proposed to
curtail the power of the large cities
by means of a constitutional amend
ment limiting the number of senators
from any single county to seven"
!. j. !.
A Norwegian journalist who recent
ly visited Germany says: There is
but one mind in Germany, and it is
fercely determined to carry on the
1ko+@ -,
terms of peace. This absolute solidar-
ity of German sentiment is the one
thing which forces itself on the mind
of observers. There is difference of
opinion and free discussion concern
ing some measures of diplomatic pol
icy, but all Germans of all parties
stand together in solid phalanx
against the enemies of the fatherland.
And they leave no doubt as to the
final outcome of the struggle. The
first article of faith declares that
Germany is now engaged in a right
eous war of defense, which has been
forced upon her, and that she is in
vincible. To any suggestion that the
enemy may in the end prove too
strong, every German answers, 1t is
to laugh And he means it,
i. j. +
The Mission school in Stavanger
now has class of twelve graduates
who are ready to be sent into the for
eign mission field. The state author
tiles have given permission to any
one of the bishops to ordain these
men to the ministry for the foreign
field. The course at this school is
one of five and one-half years and in
essentially the same theologic-
al subjects as the theological course
at the university. Two of the young
graduates are to be sent to Zululand
in the near future, six are to go to
Madagascar and four to China.
J. !. !.
Some time ago mention was made
In these columns regarding the diff
cult position in which the war has
placed the match manufacturers of
Norway. Their main supply of wood
has come from Russia, ash wood be-
ing used principally, and as that
source of supply has been cut off
many of the factories have been CON-
PEELED to limit their output and the
total supply of wood now on hand
will be exhausted in March. Norway
will after that time seek some other
source from which to secure material.
!. !. !.
The United Norwegian. Lutheran
Church Of North America will hold
its next annual meeting in Minneap-
oils June 9 to II. The entire North
American continent is covered by the
activities of the organization and it
is expected that prominent men also
will attend as visitors from Europe.
i. !. !.
King Haakon announced at the
opening of the Norwegian parliament
that bills would be submitted provid-
ing for the strengthening of the coun.
try's land and sea defenses. He said
it would be necessary to impose new
taxes in order to balance the budget.
J. !. +
Three thousand three hundred and
shins woro 1iotod 1ocs