EXPRESSION OF OPINION

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 160, 24 July 1937, Page 15

EXPRESSION OF OPINION

Age-Old Ballot System

' ^VIDENCE of the strength of denioeraey in Switzerland is seen in the Landsgemeinde — yearly eleetion gatherings in some of the smallest, and most mountainous, cantonf. On a Sunday the citizens assemblo in the market place of the chief town, elect their locai government, maglstrates, deputies, discuss and pass laws aqd vote their budget. They do all this with solemnity. It is a great and moving sight. With less serenity did the Athenians and Spartans discuss their public affairs on their agora. In 1233, the Swiss mountaineers of Uri had already held their Landsgemeinde. This is an attested date, but the Landsgemeinde existed earlier> certainly much earlier than the Norman Conquest. To-day tho Swiss citizens still attend these meetings du great crowds They discuss, stndy, ponder, and vole. The snowy mountains re-echo their voices, forming a fitting frame for tlii." dignified act of a free people. In the soft morning light the peasants go down to town, riding heavy plough horses, or taking their familics with them on jostling char-a-banes Many of them go on foot, and tlm procession of dark Sunday clothes, dotted with the bright colour3 of the ' bodiees and head-dressee of the women 's national costumes, winds tlirough f the blossoming orchards of intcnsely green valleys.

. On the town square stands the Eing, a large oval with a raised platform in the centre and sloping boards on the sides. Thus, in Glarus, the 6000 electors can see everything and be seen frQm all points. Tall ushhrs, dressed in their official gowus, scarlet red with a black and white border (the national colours)? kecp in order thc 100 or so Inrbulent boys who 'stand round the platform, presently to reccive a granQ civic lesson. Other ushers precede the Governmental procession of dignitaries in top hata and frock coats, which jiasses slowly uinong the gabled houses of the streets, while the church-bells peal joyfullv They enter tlie Ring. All stand up and iincover tlieir heads. Silence reigns. An usher offtrs the first magistrate a sceptre, symb'ol of power and unelieathcs the §word of justico. lu other can torts, Unterwaldcn and

Appenzell, there is a prayer and the Landsgemeinde song. But Glarus is half Roman Catholic and half Protestant, and care is taken to avoid anything which might disturb religious peace. The cathedral is usea every Sunday by Protestants and Eoman Catholics at different hours. In Appenzell all the citizens carry a srvord, eometimes a very old one, which gives them the right of entrance to the Ring. No other proof 'is required for exercising the right to vote. Fraud does not exist; the idea of taking precautions against it does not occur to these citizens. Tlie oath is taken. The flrst magistrate, the Landamann, raises his right hand, with thumb and two fingere lift edj tlie others folded. He swears to remain faithful. And thc 6000 citizens do the same; "Dieses schworo

ieh," (This I swear). They repeat these isolemn words with one voice. This oath and this gesture ia repeated every year. It was given so on the Grutli meadow by the three Swiss who founded Switzerland in 1291. The Landamann speaks now. He accounts for his administration, comnients on the events of tho year, both local and international. Then come elections: the vote is taken with uplifted hands, and results proclaimed at sight. Votes woulfl be counted dn case of doubt. Then the new laws are dis cussed in perfect freedom. There is no pressure on the part of the authorities. A proposition from the Landamann is successfully attacked by a robust and witty peasant who makes an unexpceted speeeh in diaject. Tho Glarus judges are still elected as they have been for G00 years. The Landsgemeinde is finished. It has lasted three long hours. The citizens disperse ln the towns. They join their wives, children, or sweethearts (women aro never admitted to the Ring) and a joyful fair takes place. The Landsgemeinde is possible only througli the greatest sincerity. Intrignes have smothered it an other cantons. Marxism is in general incompatible with it. Yet the Swiss peasants remain attached to it. The Landsgemeinde is the sign tliat democracy is strong and healthy on Switzerland.