PARLIAMENT OF 5000

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXIX, Issue 4747, 17 September 1935, Page 6

PARLIAMENT OF 5000

Switzerland has once more witnessed one of those spectacles which speak so eloquently of the democratic way of that little country. Once a year the burghers of Canton Glarus meet in the central square of its chief town to conduct the affairs of"the canton. This is just as our early, English ancestors used to meet long before the days of elected parliaments, when everyone had the right to speak and to vote. In Glarus this custom has continued at -least since 1387. To-day benches are arranged for about 2000 of the burghers, and behind them there is standing room for another 3000, while the lads have a reserved space so that they may learn how to conduct the business of their native canton when their time comes. The gathering which took place last month was wonderf""y orderly and successful. All might speak, and many did. If a speaker was brief and sensible he was attended to, but if he was garrulous or off the point he was shouted down. The Landamman (President) made every effort to get at the wish of the burghers, and not to impose his own will upon them.