The Speaker of Norway’s Storthing Visits Seattle
Viggo Ullmann, a leader of the Norwegian Liberal Party, brings his campaign for national independence to a packed hall in Seattle.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Hon. Viggo Ullmann, speaker of the Norwegian Storthing, arrived in Seattle yesterday. He was welcomed by a reception committee and escorted to the residence of Erik Frisch at 400 Harrison Street. In the evening, Ullmann lectured at Ranke’s Hall to an overflowing crowd. He spoke on the historical necessity of Norway’s movement for independence from Sweden, focusing on the consular question and the need for separate national representation. Ullmann, a prominent radical despite his aristocratic background, advocated for woman suffrage and a shift away from a standing army, emphasizing arbitration as a path to social improvement.
“The present struggle in Norway was not the result of political agitation, but an historical necessity.”
Ullmann's visit underscores Seattle's historical role as a magnet for Scandinavian immigrants who maintained strong, active political ties to their homelands. His radical platform, including support for women's suffrage, foreshadowed the progressive politics that would gain significant traction in Washington State shortly after.
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