Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1918-01-02
SCANDINAVIAN NEWS
SUMMARY OF IMPORTANT HAP
PENINGS nv FAR OFF
NoRTHLAND.
ITEMS FROM THE OLD HOME
Resume Of the Most Important Events
In Sweden, Norway and Denmark
OF Interest II the Scandlnavlsns
In America.


The new constitution of Finland re-
peals the constitutions of 1T72 and
17S9 and all other laws and stipua-
tons opposed TO the new constitution.
The first four clauses declare that Fin
land is a republic. special constitu-
ton regulating its relations with Rus
STA, that the legislative power belongs
to the landtdag ana the president of
the republic jointly, that the president
has the highest legislative power. that
he shall have a cabinet and that the
judicial power must be exercised by
Independent tribunals. Tie cOnstitu-
ton guarantees 10 Finland citizens life,
honor. personal liberty, pursuit of hap
piness and property rights. They are
given free choice of residence and
travelling within the country. Liberty
Of speech, of the press and of public
meetings is stipulated In general terms.
The secrecy of the mails is declared
inviolable, and a Finnish citizen is to
be judged only by the court of his own
district. Before this tribunal he has
a right TO speak his Finnish or Swed-
ish mother tongue. AS to legislation,
the right of initiative belongs 10 the
president and the landtdag. The pres
ident has veto power. though limited.
A bill may he passed over the presi-
dents veto by two-thirds vote of the
landtdag. Amendments to the c0nsti-
tuition must be approved by a two
thirds vote of two consecutive sessions
of the landtdag The president is elect
ed for six years, and every citizen has
a vote. The president has the power
of calling the ordinary landtdag. and
when necessary. an extraordinary
one. He shall open and close landtdag,
prescribe new elections. dissolve the
landtdag, issue administration statutes
and, by right of pardon. abolish or re-
duce punishment. In time of peace
the army and navy, and appoints rep
resentatives to international confer
enceS. All other administrative mat
ters have to he decided by the cabi-
net and the president Jointly, The cabi-
net includes five members, among them
that the officials do their duty. He has
to report violations of the laws TO the
president. and. If the president does
not pay any attention to the same, to
the landtdag. AS to Finland's relations
to Russia. the new constitution stipu
lates that Finland shall be represented
in the Russian government by min
isterial state secretary, for transmit
ting propositions and communications
between the governments of the coun-
tries. Military service is made COM
puIsOry by the constitution. The con-
stitution accepts the Evangelical Lu-
theran church az the general church
of The Finnish people. The election
to the Finnish landtdag resulted in
the choice of 90 social democrats, 81
representatives of the "civic party" %
representatives of the agricultural par
ty and 81 representatives of the Swed-
lsh Sarty. The most important change
from the former elections is the reduc-
lion Of the social democrats from lO3
TO 90. The participation In the cleo
lions was general among both men and
women. 1t is reported. for instance,
'hqt widow one hundred and four
years of age walked nearly mile 10
get an opportunity TO vote.
Dr. Earl Ignatius. representative OF
the Finnish government, now in Wash
ington to obtain supplies Of wheat and
-four for his country. probably will de-
liver series of patriotic lectures at
Finnish settlements in Minnesota.