The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-04-17
BRUSSELS IS QU|ETER;
GREAT DEBATE BEGINS
Growing Belief That Government
Will Reject Proposed Revi-
sion of Constitution.

Brussels, April 1.-THE diplomatic, private
and public galleries OF the Chamber of Rep
resentatives were filed to their CAPACITY to-
day, when the debate on the proposed re-
| vision Of .he Constitution began.
NJ. Reernaert, the former President of the
| Chamber and Secretary of State, opened the
| discussion. He was frequently interrupted
by NJ. Van der Velde, the Socialist leader,
with shouts of Universal suffrage is SUI
preme."
N. Beernaert expressed the belief that the
present Belgian electoral system was sat
isfactOry. He referred to the numerous social
laws passed du.i ing the last fifteen years at
the behest of Socialists, and said the lat
ter'S sole recognition of the passage of
these laws was the declaration of a gem
eral strike. accompanied by threats of vio-
lence.
Street Demonstration Failed.
The promised great demonstration in the
sti eets on the Adjournment of the Chamber
dwindIed TO the appeai ance of zJ pe.sun5,
who accompanied the Socialist Deputies
where n. Van der Velde, from a window,
addressed the crowd.
The collapse OF the proposed demonstra-
ton was traceable to the drenching rain
and overwhelming precautions taken by the
police. which seem to place further serious
disturbances in Brussels out of the ques-
ton.
a feeling is gaining ground that the Gov.
eminent will entirely reject the proposed
revision of the Constitution.
Many Fresh Disturbances.
Disturbances were reported from various
parts Of the country today. Bombs were
exploded at Liege and but no
Serious damage wa done.
AT Renaix an earthenware jar. with a
fuse attached to 1t, was discovered on the
threshold of the Catholic club. The fuse
was extinquished by a passerby. The only
other incident at Renaix was the throwing
OF a piece of lighted tow into a school.
The strike is spreading in Brussels. About
1o,UO men are now out.
Lancers Charged Big Mob.
A dynamite cartridge was exploded during
the day on the railroad track near Arlon.
The explosion badly damaged the railroad
bridge. but ira file was not Interrupted.
Serious disorders nave occurred at Cock
erils In the coal fields OF Seraing. a de-
tachment Of lancers was compelled to re-
peatediy charge a mob numbering about
700 persons, engaged in throwing stones at
the troops. Many people were injured. The
cafes In which the rioters took refuge were
sacked.
600 men were out on strike in the districts
OF Mons. Chartered and Liege alone. Many
men have stopped work In other sections of
the country, but It is difficult to accurately
estimate their number 1t is known, how
ever, that 5000 men have struck at Ant
werp.
Prince Retains His mmn
The number of strikers in the chief in
dustrial centers is estimated as follows: At
Charleroi. $1,000; In the central distric, a.
90; at Borinage. 5000; at Liege, 5000, and
at Nerviers, 500.
Prince Albert. son OF the Count OF Fland-
ers, and heir presumptive to the throne of
Belgium, is a Major in the Grenadier
Guards, at present held in readiness for
emergencies. The Prince declined a propo-
sition to be replaced, temporarily. as Major
Of the Grenadiers. He said: IF my men
are called to u post of danger 1t will be
my duty to lead them" King Leopold con-
graduated the Prince on his decision