SWISS DEMOCRACY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21554, 17 January 1940, Page 8

SWISS DEMOCRACY

A Long Tradition Land Of Diverse Types On a moonlit August night in 1291 a group of Helvetians met in a tiny meadow off the shore of Lake Lucerne. Each of the men (states an article In the Christian Science Monitor) carried a crossbow, a quiver of arrows, and on their feet crude sandals fastened with leather thongs. The men were the elected representatives of the three districts, Uri, Schwyz, Unterwalden. In low voice the Helvetians took an oath of fidelity and unity. The three districts became the first cantons of a new country called Schwyz—Switzerland. To-day it is 650 years since Switzerland’s independence was declared on the Rutli meadow. The centuries have brought changes. Instead of three, 22 cantons now form the world’s oldest I democracy. No longer are the Alps j isolating Switzerland from its neigh- [ hours. Electric trains speed over the i frontiers to the capitals of Europe; buses crawl up Alpine pass roads begun by Caesar’s invading legions; fleets of steamers operate on the larger lakes. Tourists come to Switzerland from far corners of the globe, in winter, in summer, in spring and in autumn. Switzerland, with 15,943 square miles, | is about as large as the combined areas > of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island—certainly a small area to hold so many mountains, so many resorts, so many different types of peoples with their variety of cultures and customs. But not so unusual if you simply think of Switzerland as a vestpocket United States, for the two ! forms of government are related in I many respects. Four Languages Used But where Americans talk English in various accents, New Yorkese, New England twang, Southern drawl—the Swiss go the whole way. They speak entirely different languages, and in assorted dialects. In the central part of Switzerland, up to Basle and around past Lake Constance. German is the written language, with German dialects the spoken tongue. In the Tessin, the southern tip jutting into Italy, Italian predominates; in French Switzerland. French. And in that mountainous section of Switzerland tucked near the Ostmark. Romansch is spoken. Only 45,000 Swiss speak Romansch. which is directly descended from the Latin. But so hardy is Romansch that it was recently adopted as Switzerland’s fourth official language. So now the “No Smoking” signs in railroad cars read: “Nicht rauchen, defense de fumer, e vietato fumari, Scommondau’ de Fimmar.” Only 28 per cent of the total workers are engaged in agriculture. Almost half the working population is engaged in industry, 12 per cent in commerce, 5 per cent in transportation, 6 per cent in professions. Variety of Industries The textile industries include silk, embroidery, and lace-making, wool and cotton spinning, and weaving. Hosiery and shoe manufacture hold important places. The chemical, machine, elec-tro-technical and metal industries, are highly regarded. And. of course, Swiss chocolate and Swiss cheese, as well as the superb watches and unique wood carvings, are also classed as industries. An old custom is the Landsgemeinde. which perpetuates the method of election still existing in a few cantons. In the public square of the canton’s capital men of voting age meet and their cantonal Government by a show of tjands. Democracy? The Swiss think it’s tops. Particularly since they are notorious gossips. They say there are 4.000,000 persons in Switzerland, and 4,000.000 political parties. Which isn’t far wrong.