The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1915-10-09
BY EDGAR ANsEL MOWER,

BY EDGAR ANsEL MoWRER,
Correspondent of the Chicago News.)
Lausanne, NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.,
In his Historic Politique de Europe
Contemporaries" begins his chapter
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-
tion 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
he people who have gone farthest in
the realm of popular government.
The initiative" has been genera
since 1S4S, and the referendum" con-
sidered 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 $3.50, 900 inhabi-
tants, of whom about 200, 900 are Ital-
ian by race and language, $50, 900 on.
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. It 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
fcant, although one of the most bril-
liant of the government ministers
Sig. Motta, ONE from the Ticino.
So much by the way of prelude to
a presentation of Switzerland's posi-
ton during the present great war.
At the beginning of hostilities the
French and Italian cantons manifest
ed a sturdy but inoffensive sympathy
for the allies. The German c%antons,
to the contrary, gave vent to a 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
ceptible 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
a%ggeration to say that, n~otwithstand
ing the German speaking majority
there are now in the country as many
open adherents of the allies as of the
Austro- Germans. This means that G
large number Of persons who speal
German favor the nations of the quad
ripple alliance, particularly France.
Swiss Industry Badly Hurt.
But a new economic problem has ap
peared and is forcing people to fact
it squarely. Switzerland, accustomed
In time of peace to derive considera
BILE profit from it's fine scenery and iii
central position, now pays heavily foI
the latter. A large proportion of thu
national army has been modified a
considerable expense and kept unde,
arms since August, 1914. Industry il
suffering. The foreigner comes blu
rarely to the countless hotels, which
stand bleak and deserted like so man.
gigantic m~ausoleums. Only a few
homeless individuals from foreigl
parts loiter in the streets-few b,
comparison with former years. Evel
the exiled revolutionary has quit tn,
little country where he for so man.
years found sanctuary. A few iron
tier towns are centers of espionagi
and intrigue. That is all. The SUI
rises alone over the glaciers fair des
olation. There are no tourists shiV
ering with cold and delight to welcom,
his upcoming or to turn away to hurr,
down the last slope homeward as h
sets behind the purple mountains.
The country suffers from the los
of tourists. But most of all 1t suffer
from the bonds and restrictions witt
which the warning nations, and chief,
those which command the sea. ar
endeayoring to correct it. During
! year the strings have been draw
ever tighter and tighter. Because sh
! lacks a seaport Switzerland ca
| CAUSES RUSH FOR TIMBEI