Hartford labor., 1894-10-20
SOCIALISTS VICTORIOUS.
OUR BELGIAN COMRADES ELECT OVER THIRTY OF THEIR CAM DIDATES TO THE CHAM
 BIER OF DEPUTIES.
Honor to Jean Volders, Who Sac rificed His Life for the Noble
 Cause of Labor.

Three cheers for the Socialist Labor Party of Belgium!
 Over 30 Socialists elected to the Bel gian Chamber of Deputies!
 And fifteen more may be elected at the coming by-elections!
 The elections for members of the Cham Der of Deputies were held throughout Belgium last Sunday. The voting was under the new compulsory system, which provides severe penalties for 'non-voters.
 Not Equal Suffrage.
 According to the election laws the voters in Belgium are divided into three classes, as follows 1. Workmen over 25 years of age are entitled to one vote. g. Married men with families, who pay taxes, are entitled to two votes. B. Land- lords, priests, educators, etc., are entitled to more than two votes.
 Since the Socialist Labor Party's mem bership is composed mainly of working people who own nothing but their manual and mental labor-power, the disadvant- ages under which this party labors un- der the new election laws can readily be seen But in spite of all this our Belgian comrades gained glorious vic tory and completely broke up the Liberal Party machine that has often de- ceived the disfranchised Belgian work men. .i
 The Liberals, Defeat.
 The Clerical and Liberal parties having in their ranks all the wealthy and pos sessing classes, who had the privilege of f1xr represented a great voting strength in comparison with the Socialists. At the time of writing this article complete report of the election returns is not yet at hand. The Liberal Party seems to be nearly broken up. Thirty-one seats that were formerly represented by the Liberals have been won by the Social ist abnr Party
 Tn I.iege the Snciaiists have. secured:
 . ss- A.4as-s--s. mining district. Iii Bru ssls and Ghent the Socialists have also gained a. number of seats.
 The Middle Party Swept or.
 Tn Brussels the middle class Liberal Party was completely routed by the two extreme parties, the Liberals on one side. and the Socialists on the other. The Socialists boiled a heavy vote that surpassed even the most optimistic ex- pectaiions of the Labor agitators. The Clericals have lost seven seats, five of which were captured by the Liberals and two by the Socialists. The 31 seats lost by the Liberals were won, almost without exception, by the Socialist La bor Party. According to the latest re- ports the Socialists have captured at, least 30 seats.
 A Re-BaIIot Necessary.
 In many districts a re-ballot is neces- sary and will come off within few days It may be predicted that the Socialists will capture several more of the con tested seats. The fight in the by-elec- tions will be hot one, and the Socialists will make it their duty to make the best out of it for the International Labor movement.
 Socialist Leaders Elected.
 Among the Socialist candidates elected are the most prominent leaders of the Belgian Labor movement. M. Anseele. who was elected in Ghent, is one of the oldest fighters in the International Labor movement, and one of the first organizers of the old International workingmen's Association. M. Dufuisseaux, who was elected in the Charleroi District is the leader of the coal miners of Belgium As one of the leaders of the great strike in 1888 he was indicted and fled to France, whence he returned to Belgium few weeks ago. Arriving at the frontier he was promptly arrested and is still kept imprisoned in the city of Mons. Calle- waerts, the Socialist, who was also elect ed in Charleroi, is the leader of the Belgian Knights of Labor.
 The General Strike.
 Last Sundays election was the first election held under the new law, brought about by last Tears general strike. It will be remembered that the working peo- pie of Belgium went on general strike about year ago, thereby forcing the Government to grant the right of voting to every Belgian workman of 25 years of age. The leader of this general strike was
 Comrade Jean VoIders. It was especially through his energetic and untiring agitation that the Govern ment, fearing bloody revolution, sub- mitted to the demands of Organized La bor and after five days the general strike was declared off. Corarade Volders sac rificed his life for the cause of the op- pressed. The enormous amount of agita- ton work heaped upon his shoulders, the great excitement, accompanied by the hard work during the general strike movement was more than his uncommon ly strong constitution could bear. He