Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1915-05-20
BY MARTIN w. oDLANO.
Sweden.

Vi HFGly interest In sweden at tnAc
time. Despite the great war which
Russia has on its hands, 1t finds time
for vigorous prosecution of it's pol
Icy of Russifying Finland, and Swed.
ish writer's are not sparing in their
criticism of what is taking place. One
of these writer's says. among other
things: Russia seems determined to
blot out the last trace OF the indepen-
dence OF Finland during the war. The
free grand duchy guaranteed by Car
Alexander is to be completely swal-
lowed up by the empire. The whole
country Is virtually in state Of siege.
Russian laws governing the press,
public meetings and societies are ap-
piled to Finland. The government Ia
to be changed SO as to conform to
the Russian pattern. Public officials
are to be educated in Russia. The in
dependent money and customs sys-
TEN OF Finland are to be abolished.
The Greek Catholic church is to be
made supreme in the Protestant, Fin
land. Personal persecution fiourishes
as never before. Many Finnish pa.
triots, including the greatest states
man OF the country, the venerable
president of the senate, have been de-
ported to the most desolate section
of Siberia. Men who never took any
part in any kind of political agita-
ton are accused of conspiracy and
crimes. their houses are searched, and
they themselves are thrown into pris
on. Finnish newspapers are heavily
fined or entirely suppressed on ac-
count of the most innocent remarks.
And In the midst of all these trials
the Finlanders remain loyal to Russia.
More than that: they are adhering to
a policy of peaceful resistance which
they declare can never be broken by
means of violence. They trust that
the future will reward their patience"
The Swedish residents of Philadel-
phia have organized a society called
The Sons of Sweden, which has for
Its object the dissemin alton of infor-
nation as to Sweden among English
speaking people. On March 80, 1888,
the Swedes landed on the Delaware
river, establishing the first Swedish
settlement in America, and the ami
versary of that historic event will be
celebrated with banquet by the new
society every year hereafter.
Sweden has for many years carried
on considerable trade with Persia
but since the outbreak of the war 1t
has become exceedingly difficult to
carry on this trade. To overcome this
difficulty the Transatlantic company
has decided to establish a steamship
line between Sweden and the Persian
ports. The steamer Atlantic will soon
take on cargo at Goteborg, and Ii
its voyage is successful other voyages
will be made by other ships.
A young married woman of Stock
holm recently killed her three-year-old
child and then committed suicide by
drowning. II Is believed that her mind
Wac affected, but some hold that finan-
cial worries may have been RESPONSE
BILE for the terrible deed. Her hus-
band was modified, and as the wom-
al was refused help by the commu-
nifty, she may have worried herself
insane over the situation.
An old tailor burned to death on a
farm near Karlshamn. With two 9th
ers he was playing cards and was in
an intoxicated condition. None OF the
trio became aware of the fact that the
house was afire till the flames en-
veloped them. The two others saved
their lives by leaping through win
dow. but the aged tailor remained be-
hind and persisted.
The Swedish government has
granted permission to number OF
dealers to export 10000 draft horses,
ranging In age from Ave to thirteen
years, These animals are not to be
used for war purposes but will pre-
sumably take the place of horses
= taken from their everyday work to
the battle field.
As in Norway, the war has had a
stimulating effect upon the shipbuild-
ing industry of Sweden. and new ships
are being rushed to completion at all
of the shipbuilding factories of the
country. The ships now building have
an aggregate tonnage of over 100000
tons.
After Ave days negotiations joint
committee of Swedish and Russian
delegates agreed to propose that the
railway systems of Sweden and Russia
be connected at Haparanda. A rail-
way bridge will have to be built across
the Torne river In other respects the
connecting tracks will not cost much.
The chances are that the plan will be
adopted by the governments of the
two countries.
The government Is urging the rtks.
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