Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-08-20
Present Political C0ndiniOns In Scandinavia
III. DENMARK

al" budget. Another conservative
cabinet, Sehested, followed in Its
wake, but meanwhile the Danish
farmers had become o powerful fac
tor and commanded the respect due
them.
The liberals Enter.
Finally In July, 1901. King Chris
tian the Ninth recognized the rights
Of the constantly growing democratic
and liberal party, and 9 cabinet was
appointed, consisting of liberals and
headed By H. a. Deuntzer. In this
cabinet a farmer was seated, and sew
eral Of the other members were news
paper editors and school teachers.
Another liberal government follow
ed under J. G. Christensen, Of the
shrewdests politicians of the north.
This cabinet collapsed al a conse-
quence Of the Alberti scandal. P. A.
Albert, a former minister Of justice.
had defrauded the state as we'll as
certain banks; he surrendered himself
to the police In September, 1908, and
his cabinet was held morally RESPONSE
BILE for his conduct. Some time later,
Albert was sen to the states peni-
Tertiary for a period of eight years.
and 1t was expected that he would be
released on the 18th of the present
month.
The Defense Problem.
The Christensen cabinet was follow
ed by one headed by Niels Neergaard.
but that went to. pieces on the issue
Of national defense. The following
government, formed by Count Hol-
and succeeded in carrying through a
compromise regarding the defense
question. After having fulfilled this
mission. the cabinet resigned and gave
place to the radicals who went into
the kings council under the leader
ship Of Theodor Zahle. the son of a
shoemaker. The Zahle cabinet which
represented extreme liberal views,
with Just a tinge of nj socialism, ex-
listed for only a few months and was
followed by Claus Berntsen's cabinet
from 1910 to 1913. In 1918 Zahie
again formed a cabinet which, after
having undergone several minor re-
constructions. Is still at the helmet.
The Present Government.
The Zahle cabinet carried through
one Of the reforms prepared by Its
predecessor, the revision and amend
ment of the constitution. This result
ed in granting absolute and unre
stricted voting privileges to all mer
and women rs years old who are citi'
zens of Denmark, and formerly ex'
listing class restrictions were ones fol
all abolished.
For the first time in the history O.
Denmark, a socialist, Staining, be
came a member Of the cabinet Las
summer, but only q few weeks ago his
transacting peace negotiations with
the Stockholm socialistic conferences
led to his being considered obnoxious
as a cabinet member. He was forcet
to resign, and his place was taken b.
another socialist, Borghjerg, editor o.
the chief organ Of socialism in Den
mark. the Social-Demokraten."
War Conditions in the Country.
To the Zahle cabinet was entrusted
the difficult task Of maintaining Dan
ish neutrality when the world wa
broke out, and 1t was succeeded II
| spite of much coercion from boti
groups Of ~beiligerents.
During the first two and q hal
years Of the war Denmark thrivet
s~plendidly, that is. certain classes did
The middle class did not enjoy tn
increase in the cost of living whicl
war. But, It may yet be said that
| steady stream OF gold flowed into tn
Golfers Of Denmark for a long time.
Then came the German subHarin
blockade announcement OF Februar
/, and the subsequent break In diplo
matte relations between the Unite
States and Germany.
Denmark entered upon the mos
dangerous period OF its history.
Results OF the Blockade.
The first immediate consequence O
the blockade proclamation was tha
all Danish shipping stopped abrupt!
It was resumed only about a mont
later.
The government was quick to real
ize the seriousness of the situatio
and decreed that prices Of commodi
ties must not rise above the quota
tons Of January 80, that is, the price
in force two days before the subma
rine campaign went into effect.
A number of restrictions were re
sorted to-
In the first place. there would in
evitably be a shortage Of coal. Thre
hundred thousand tons of coal mus
be imported to Denmark each mont
and the difficulties connected wit
obtaining it are constantly increasing
1t will be enough for illustrative pun
poses to mention that formerly 1t COZ
about 81 to transport a ton OF COS
from England. 1t now costs $35, thi
increase in freight rates being du
chiefly to the higher war and sea in
surance premiums required.