Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-02-25
Sketch of Life

Hialmar Branttrg, the first So
cillist prime mini5'e' in the hist DRY
of Sweden. and ono ~ the Outstand-
ing public men OF THAI couhtry in
| his time, was regarded by the
swedish people as their country's
lroSt prominent international poll
, tician.
Devnting virtually his entire life
to the amelioration of the conditions
I OF the working classes and the at
| tainment of the Social Democratic
| dream Of universal peace by univer-
! sal understanding, DIR. Branting
worked increasingly and with fine
| optimism for the realization of his
| ideals. He spared himself no per-
| sonal sacrifice, and even sat in pris-
| on for his championship of the
| cause of those whose caste and cutie
| We're interior TO his own.
! During the World War DIR. Bran
! ting was outspoken in his criticism
| Of Germany and in May, 1917, he
| made 4 bitter attack upon the Ger
| man government for it's submarine
warfare, charactcrizing Germany
| ruling clique as the common Sene-
mics of mankind"
} During the Paris peace confer
cnce DIR. Branting was active as an
| advocate of peace on the lines OF
/ Woodrow Wilson's fourteen points
AS Swedens delegate to the League
| of Nations he took a prominent part
| in its proceedings with special in
| tercst in the movement for disarma-
ment. He was chairman of the IS
sembly committee on disarmament
| at the 1920 and 1921 sessions and
also was appointed member of the
| league councils commission on
| ornaments.
DR.. Branting. with Christian =.
Lang of Norway, secretary of the
International Union, was awarded
/ the Nobel Peace Trize for 1871.
Born at Stock holm, November 70,
1860, DIR. Brantinf, was the son OF
Professor l.. G. Branting. He was
educated at Upsala University
studying natural sciences.
A trip abroad prior to 1882 brought
the young scientist into touch with
Socialism and when ne returned he
Immediately got into politics through
the Journalistic channel, becoming
an editor on the Tiden, n Social
Democratic newspaper He went
over to the Social Demokraten when
it was founded in 1886 and a year
later became editor. In that position
he carried on his activities in behalf
of the ocking classes and peace.
The Social Democrats organized
Us a party with Branting one of the
leading promoters. There was oppo-
Sition to it FROM the start. accompa-
MED bya movement for the repres-
sion of free speech and free assem-
bly,. In two years. or in the summer
of 1889. the four principle editors OF
the Socialist press, including Brant-
ing, found themselves sitting in pris-
on together. Despite mpriSonments,
combined with fines, repeated many
times. Branting and his fellow fight
crs would not give way.
In 1895, when war against Norway
was advocated by the Swedish mill
tarists, Branting was sentenced to
three months proSonment for de-
livering speech denouncing the
idea Of war against our brothers of
the north" and containing words in
terpreted as suggesting the assassl-
nation of the king. The sentence
subsequently was changed to a fine.
Or. Branting was first elected TO
the second chamber in 1897 on the
Socialist Dem ocratic ticket. He made
Il brilliant and honorable record and
by his sincerity and ability won the
respect of those who had been his
bitterest opponents. He was the
athor of several books and treatises
on political subjects.