Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-04-19

The Agitation in Belgium for the Ballot
is Successful


The Belgian chamber of representatives re-
assembled last evening after the preparation o.
the reports on the revision Of the constitution
and by vote of 119 against IL, with fourteen
abstentioHs from voting. adopted universe
suffrage. with a provision for plural voting by
the Classes owning property, according to the
amount and situation of the property.
Cheers within the chamber were followed by
prodigiocs reclamation from the enormou.
crowd that awaited the result Of the voting out.
side the chamber. The greatest enthusiasm
was displayed everywhere. and the people
joined In a jubilee in honor Of the great tri-
urnph which they had achieved. 1t is expected
that the decision in favor of universal suffrage
Will have an allaying effect upon the popular
excitemen: and agitation, which had been
rapidly assuming the dimensions of a general
insurrection.
The dread OF a terrible uprising OF the people
similar to that of the French revolution in ita
resistess rage against privilege and power had
the effect of bringing the chamber of repre-
sentatiyes around to the popular side. There
is doubt in many minds that had the cham
Der not acted promptly there would have been
a revolution in Belgium.
In view OF the action Of the deputies the
labor leaders resolved at meeting held last
evening to advise the abandonment of the gen.
eral strike. At tine same time they decided to
Issue TO the PEOPLE manifesto against the
Nyssen bill. which proposes tine combination of
plural voting and universal suffrage. The
leaders will urge the people TO follow up their
victory by aCitating increasingly for universal
suffrage pare ard simple.
Police and workingmen had several en-
counters last evening. and six rioters have been
Seriously injured. Nevertheless the end OF the
riots is beheved 20 he near. The decision of
the labor leaders t" sbandon the strike pro-
dgced general feeling of relief The police
worked night and day. AID are completely ex-
b&Gsted. We're lie strikes and riots TO con-
Time = few days more. preservation of order
would be left entirely 20 the military. as the
T0i're could nCt endure tie strain forty-eight
LGngS longer. Many arrests of socialists are re-
EC-:ed :T,r tie Provinces.
SiEAS!NG or TEE PLURAL VOTE
II. Asye.e Vercruysse AID Mr.. Alfred
S.lrOHis. members OF tine Belgian senate arrived
III New York Last week from Belgium. They
are on :Eei= way to the wor,d's fair. but have
s;orvoI over few DAYS FOR the purpose of
Tqyi.c their resrects 70 the Belgian minister
~. Ie t.E~lt. aEd 10 obtain n short rest They
aye bo;h in New Ic-k.
i EE'Gi[ reporter saw Mr.. Yercruvsse a. his
hu.ei ls2t night. lie said thai he thought the
Iepor,s about the troubles IN Belgium had been
greatly exaggerated. because he regular troops
had not Been called ont. ths civic or national
guard only having been ordered 20 confront
the rioters. and also because neither he nor
VI. S!r2onis mad received advices OF any kind
since leaving Belgium telling them that the
situation there really serious.
Since the re-isloC OF the constitution was be-
gun about four months ago he SAID numerous
plans had been submitted by members Of the
chamber of deputies for a change in the system
of Suffrage. Among these one known as
the plural vote. BY this plan all citizens over
twenty-five years of age were 20 be entitled to
one vote; those who could pass a certain edu-
catiorai examination should DE allowed an addi-
tional vote: those who owned certain amount
OF property were 20 be allowed third vote
and. last. all citizens forty years of age or
more were entitled to a fourth vote
Under this plan nan possessing all the
necessary qualifications coI!d cast four votes
rs one tine. while those harins only one quail
fication could only vote once. A combination
could be effected. however. as. fo- instance
any one having two OF The Qualifications could
vote twice. MAE only twenty-foUr years OF
age. but who had a certain amount of educa-
ton. could have one vote.
This plan met with the approval OF the gov
eTnmeus and vas presented to tine chamber
and senate for consideration. The poorer
classes. urged on Dy leaders VINO had their own
ends TO serve. opposed The plan and demanded
universal suffrage.
The proposed measure has been under con-
s:derat!on for several months. bat two-third
vote being necessary to pass it the opposition
DELAYED It's adoption and infamed the lower
Classes by exciting speeches and misrepresen-
.StiOns.
The announcement in yesterday evening 9
papers that universal suffrage, with provision
for plural voting. had been adopted by the
chamber of representatives. was welcome news
TO Mr.. Nercruysse. who said that the adoption
o. the provision for plural voting was certainly
a victory for the conservative party.
Z he reporter also saw Mr.. Simonis at Mr.
Nails house las. night. He Endorsed Mr.. YER
cruysse opinion about the situation in Bel
GUM and declared that Yesterdays action of
tie chamber of Representatives was very graft
tying to him.