Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1915-07-08
NORWAY.

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NORWAY.
Norway has political party gener-
ally called the military nihilists." The
great war has silenced such people in
most countries, but In Norway some of
them make as much noise as ever.
Their political creed is, in short, that
one nation is as good or as bad as an
other. and that there is no good rea-
son for going to war for the particu-
lar country in which you happened to
be born. Johan ]. l. Screaming. SUI
preme court attorney, recently put this
question to the military nihilists in a
newspaper: Is It worth while to de-
fend Norway" In his answer he says,
among other arguments: I'VE our
selves and our forefathers for many
generations have lived and struggled
here-struggled to carry Norway for.
ward until she has become one Of the
most enlightened countries, where we
live under healthy and secure condi.
tons and where the weak members Of
society perhaps have greater rights
than anywhere else. A nobility and per-
sonal privileges do not exist. All men
and women have the right to vote on
local as well as national questions. We
have complete right OF assemblage
and liberty of speech and Of writing
which is exaggerated almost to the ex-
tent Of disease. We have free and
vigilant press. We have free and ex-
cellent schools. We have sickness
and accident insurance and mortality
which is lower than in most countries
and is continually going down. We have
aid funds for workingmen's homes.
We have small-altogether too small
military expenditures. We have
just courts largely elected by the peo-
pie. and we enjoy q full and absolute
liberty In every respect as to our
course In the future. All classes have
equal rights in electing the storthing.
and we may almost say that In prac-
tice there are no limits to the author.
ity Of this body. Constitutional provi-
sions are hampered by no veto. and 1t
is not applied to ordinary statutory
laws"
Norwegians are willing to admit that
they are very apt to agree to disagree.
But the so-called alcohol committee
seems to go to extremes in the business
of disagreement. In committees there
are often two parties presenting ma
jority and a minority report; but this
COMMITTEES is sharply divided into three
parties, each of which has report.
The majority cannot recommend ma
tional prohibition. but this party is
willing to introduce the so-called Bratt
system, which has been tried in Swe-
den. The main feature of this system
is that II man wants to buy liquor he
must get an account book In which the
seller enters the name of the buyer, the
date and amount of the sale. There is
also limit to the amount each person
is permitted to buy for each week. It
is evident that this regulation is very
annoying to the purchaser and many a
thirsty soul will no doubt suffer rather
than be subjected to such humiliat-
ing procedure. Many liquor dealers
hold licenses for life and the Borre-
gard license seems to be perpetual.
The majority recommends that the
state purchase these rights and close
the establishments. 1t is also pro-
posed to permit the sale of liquor on
steamers and railroads without inter-
fering with the local veto rights of the
communities through which the public
carriers pass. One party wants the
state to monopolize the liquor traffic.
and the others would prefer this to the
present condition. The storthing will
no doubt pass some radical laws
against the liquor traffic. Many men,
bers of that body are straight prohibit
tionists.
Only two of the state railways OF
Norway show decrease of the re-
ceipts for the month of March as COM
pared with the same month last year.
The Bergen railway was at the head of
the list with an increase of $4,000.
and the Meraker line came as No.
with an increase OF $4,000. The total
increase since the beginning of the
fiscal year is $750.000. This ought to
prove that the war has not killed bust.
ness In Norway.
At Landfaldo, near Drammen. a cy.
clone recently took the top Of lumber
pile and scattered the boards far and
wide.
A man in Trondhjem had become
convinced that the house in which he
lived was haunted. He chose the ma
tional holiday for driving out the dew
ilry. He did this by carrying one
piece CT furniture after another out on
the street. until the sidewalk was
blocked. and the people Of the neigh.
borhood found greater entertainment
there than anywhere else In the city.
In an excavation In Trondhjem Q
beautifully carved stone was found.
and 1t is said to have been placed
there in the ninth or tenth century.
The Norwegian steamer Svein Jarl.
a vessel of 1.135 tons. has been tor
pedoed. The Norwegian newspapers
allege that German spies were aboard
the Svein Jarl and other steamers
which have been torpedoed before they
left porte The newspapers urge the