Bisbee daily review., 1915-05-19
UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE
 IN DENMARK STARTS
 DURING NEXT MONTH
Long Fight is Ended for C0nst- tutional Reform in European Country. War Forced C0nseT- Fatives to Action.

COTENHAGEE. May 1S DeEuark's . new constitution erauuua 9QlA Ul- lrasa Go men and women. vnch eocs into effect on June B. has ended Ions and bitter controversy. For this hap py result, the Danes can thank the wJr Although at one time i, looked .a, { constitutional reform would dis vvp' the country, the great rouGiJ io which .t is a near ueighbor brought about spirit Of compromise as well as a feeling of broader patriotism The demand for reform was too wide spread for conservatives to resist, but concC ssions were made to ensure Ia gradual change
 Electors must attain their 35th year to vote for candidates to the Lands ting. or upper house and their 21rh year to the Folkesiue. or lower house. . Formerly elective rights in the case of the lower house were granted a1 the a0tn year, but as concession ts the conservatives the limit win be re- QucCd only year 8t each election which will ensure a period of sixteen years for lhe reduction to take place ln.
 It was .n l8f3 that Denmark passeJ from a despotism to free corsttu- ton. But the reactouaries gained tho upper hand durine the depression that followed the disastrous war with GeI- Imany and Austria in 1886. and passed constitution chat virtually delivered |al Che political into the hands of tho landowners by means of certain cleo, |toral privilaees regarding the Bands. ting or upper house. leaving the pop -lar body with little Go say in the run. |umg Of Che government
 This constitution in 1866 has been marked by half a century of lighting | between the two houses. Thc conser-
 vadyes held the upper house. which | did as it pleased But as uowerless ! in leg.satiuq as was the lower house, ! behind il stood the people. and siuc3
 1901 it has been composed Of liberals i moderates and radicals, with almost Inc conservatives.
 1 A demand from the Folkctne wa5 Consequently a demand from the mass
 of the Danish people and not to be is- Inored. The movement for constiu
 tional reform began modestly enough, l as only one amendment -enecting
 few voting qualifications -was asked
 for. From this beginning. the move. ment grew for wider and wider chang l es relating to the upper as we'll as
 tho lower house. The conservatives
 opposed any reform. But Minister ] Bemtsens proposal for the abolition
 of electoral privileges held by the up-
 per class and for universal suffrage ! for men and women. was taken up viz.
 orousiy by the entire democracy, in- l cluding modcrates. radicals and so'
 cialists, and notwithstanding the inc. qualities Of the franchise Che radicai3
 even replaced the moderates in the
 cabinet Last July it was seen that universal suffrage was assured.
 The outbreak of the European war
 coused domestic questions Co Doc loa
 sight of for while But early In tha
 present year the conservative leaders
 approached the radical Prime Miuisr
 ter Mir Zahle. and offered to neeotiate ion the basis proposed by the radicals . lu April Che compromise was arranged
 and King Christian will anlX his sig
 nature to che new and free consuW-
 tion of the Danish people on the fifth lof next month.
 COOK GETS SALARY RAISED