Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1917-01-04


both as regards yield and quality. The
late hay crop was pretty much of n
failure.
Sweden.
Sweden has usually been classed as
pro-German neutral nation, and In
common with most of the German
newspapers the Swedish press COM
ments favorably upon President VIII
sons peace proposal. Dagens Nyheter.
leading liberal organ, says: "Presi-
dent Wilson's peace proposal Is WELL
aimed bullet with many chances to
hit the mark. But there Is a strong
impression that 1t will be difficult for
both belligerents to comply. President
Wilson's declaration has no connection
with the German proposal. There was
| certain bitterness before In neutral
| European countries that Wilson has
been unable to compel united peace
intervention. Now, alone. he has
| freer position and may act more
quickly. The German peace proposal
seemed like the first dove from the
| ark In the waves of the wars flood of
sins. Wilson's proposal causes a feel
Ing as If the ark We're landing upon
Ararat." Stockholm's Dagblad, a con-
sentative paper. says: WILSON'S pro-
| posal Is wisely balanced and 1t will be
difficult to refuse to comply. The case
of the United States, that it's position
Is becoming more inconvenient, Is still
more the case Of smaller neutral coun-
| tries. 1t is to the interest of all the
neutrals that nothing be neglected to
make the possibilities Of peace clear.
All the neutrals must sympathize with
Wilson's feasible proposal and with his
action at favorable moment"
The increase of the national debt
of Sweden has been rapid Of late years.
In 1904 1t amounted to only 3S4, OO0, 900
crowns, but by 1913 1t had increased
to 60, 100000. Since the beginning of
the war it has Increased by 100000, 900
crowns. Interest and payments on the
principal will next year total Al, 1000. 900
crowns. The Norwegian national
debt in 1913 amounted to 357, 900, 900
crowns. The per capita Indebtedness
In that year was 145 crowns, as COM
pared with ii crowns I'm Sweden. Now
the national debt of Norway is 41S,-
100000 crowns. and that of Sweden Is
1000 100000 crowns. The present per
capita Indebtedness is 165 crowns In
Norway. as compared with 200 crowns
In Sweden.
No little disgust has been caused In
Sweden by the publication of news
story that young gypsy named Bango
has been trying to regain possession
of gypsy girl whom he claims to have
bought from her father and who left
him because of his cruelty. According
to one newspaper account, Bango
bought the girl for 100 crowns accord.
Ing to other accounts, he paid 200 or
800 crowns, and he feels very strongly
that she is his personal property, the
same as If she We're horse or cow.
The girl is said to be gentle and fair,
and was assisted to escape from Bango
by couple Of persons who took pity
on her. She claims to be q citizen of
Sweden and cannot be sold like chat
tel.
There is every indication that the
winter will be rigorous In Sweden and
the authorities Of Malmo have taken
! steps to protect the poor people against
suffering. A new system of extending
aid has been put into practice. Instead
of giving the needy money with which
to buy fuel and food the authorities
give coupons or tickets, which are ex-
changed for provisions. This makes
certain that the money Is not spent un-
necessarily and the system Is working
well.
Fishermen Of Malmo have made easy
money during the fall on account Of
the high prices-prices which have
been higher than ever before, owing to
the inexhaustible foreign demand
caused by the war. Some groups OF
fishermen, four to five In number, have
realized up to 100000 crowns.
| Scandinavian solidarity" is the
| title of an editorial In Aftomttdningen
(the Evening Times) of Stockholm, in
which the hope is expressed that Swe-
den and Denmark will stand by Nor
| in har
| over the latters submarine attacks on
Morse vessels.
According to press report, the lat
est Swedish loan has raised the per
capita indebtedness Of the country to
200 crowns, and has now reached a
| total Of ore billion crowns.
In a Hurry.