Daily Mail 13 November 1905 page 7
Voting took place yesterday throughout Norway on the resolution of the Storthing (October 31) endorsing the proposal of the Government that it should be authorised to ask Prince Charles of Denmark to accept election as King of Norway. Prince Charles, who is the third son of the King of Denmark, is married to Princess Maud, King Edward’s daughter, who will thus become Queen.
The voting is the result of a direct referendum for or against the resolution, this having been insisted on by the Danish Royal House before the Prince would be allowed to accept the Crown.
The voting was spread over two-days, as the distances to be covered by voters were enormous.
(From Our Own Correspondent.)
CHRISTIANIA, Sunday, Nov. 12
Prince Charles of Denmark’s popularity is increasing. Malicious rumours about his personal character are spread by eminent Swedish hands, but authoritative contradiction has been given to them by the Minister for Ecclesiastical Affairs, the Rev. Christopher Knudsen.
During a meeting in favour of the monarchy, the Minster said that the Norwegian Government, from distinguished sources in Denmark, had received information of the best possible kind concerning Prince Charles.
A saying of the Premier’s (Mr. Michelsen) at a meeting yesterday will certainly have a strong effect. The Prime Minister said: "Prince Charles was personally willing to receive the Norwegian crown and to come here even in the summer, that most difficult period for Norway. That he did not come was owing to facts which neither the Prince nor the Norwegian Government were able to control.
"When he comes as our King he will aspire to be the first citizen of Norway, and will scrupulously serve the interests of his new country."
The Premier’s declaration was received with a roar of applause.
The campaign of the last week for the referendum to-day has been arduous all over the country. The Republicans have made assault after assault, especially on the labour districts. In these they have certainly made some impression, but the peasants are likely, for the greater part, to vote for the Monarchy.
By the Monarchists the contrast has been carried on with the greatest engery. They have sent a large number of lecturers into the provinces from Lindesnäs to North Cape. It has had the best effect that former Republicans like M. Björnestjerne, Professor Sars, Mr. Lövland, Mr. Arctander, President of the Storthing, Mr. Berner, Mayor of Christiania, and Dr. Fridtjof Nansen have now become ardent Monarchists.
The campaign culminated yesterday with simultaneous addresses by thirty Monarchical lecturers, who everywhere spoke to great crowds, and everywhere were welcomed with roars of applause.
In Crhistiania the Premier, M. Michelsen, addressed about 4,000 electors. After the meeting a great crowd followed his carriage through the streets with cheers.
The weather to-day is unfavourable for the taking of the plebiscite, as snow has fallen. Notwithstanding this, there has been a numerous attendance and frequent voting.
About 70 per cent. of the electorate have voted here to-day. From the provinces little information has been received, but in several places there has been a greater attendance than on August 13, the date of the referendum for the dissolution of the Union.
Nothing can be said about the result of the vote, but the Monarchists hope to obtain a majority of two-thirds at least.
Oppdatert 24.08.04
Wigo H. Skråmm, Fetsund - Nils
Steinar Våge, Lillestrøm