Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-13
ON THE VERGE OF A REVOLT
Belgium Faces Political Crisis as Result Of
Labor Troubles.
GENERAL STRIKE TO Be DECLARED
Socialists Force Government to Issue
on Electoral Law, Modification OF
which Means Revision of
the Constitution.

DAROoDhADt RRAh 10 hlE tAilNlhk NG0h
ends with the lull before the storm. The
coming week has already been dubbed re-
vision week. and it promises to witness
important events. A general strike has
beeen proclaimed for Monday and Wednes-
day q political crisis will be reached by the
opening in the Chamber OF Deputies Of the
discussion Of the question Of the revision
Of the constitution, on which the Belgian
people are now divided.
The socialists and liberals have for a long
time past been seeking to force the clerical
government to an issue on the question OF
electoral law, modification of which will
necessitste a revision Of the constitution.
At the present time any elector can cast
from one to three votes, according to his
qualifications. The socialists and liberals
claim that workingmen cannot obtain more
than two votes, whereas the rich get three;
moreover, that in the rural districts voters
who are under the domination of the priests
and who support the present government
are often fraudulently given three votes in
stead Of the two Of which at the most they
are entitled.
To Revise Constitution.
The liberal leader in the m Of
Deputies, M. Jansen, submitted a motion
for the revision Of the constitution, which
the government has agreed shall come be-
fore the chamber next Wednesday. II the
clerical majority consents to take the prop
ositlon under consideration 1t will be re-
ferred to a committee for examination.
This will be the first gain for the revision
lists, and it undoubtedly will have an i'm
mense effect in calming the country, which
at the present moment is everywhere in a
state Of ebullition. The belief prevails in
1890 arNa NAoN 49, lii
give this sop to the revisionists with the
intention Of afterward, when the country
has been quleted, throwing out the PROPOSE
ton.
In the meanwhile, from almost every
mining and industrial district comes news
that large numbers Of men have decided to
strike on Monday. Partial strikes began
| yesterday at Liege, Mons, Charleroi and
elsewhere, and it is reported that 10000
men are already out.
No General Strike in Brussels.
There is little indication, however, that
a general strike will occur in Brussels IT.
self. The workmen's committees will meet
tomorrow to come to a decision regarding
the action to be taken in this city. The
government is very anxious concerning the
situation in the mining districts. Regi-
ments OF infantry" and cavalry have been
drafted to the various %centers, and quarters
have beer. prepared at many mines and in
dustrial works for detachments of troops
to guard the properties.
The papers report that no fewer than
II, 900 old pattern rifles have been trans
formed into breech-loaders and sold and
are now in the hands Of workmen. This
figure is probably greatly exaggerated, but
there is no doubt that a large number OF
these weapons are in possession oftthe men.
Lie Peuple, a socialist paper Of Brussels,
is openly selling revolvers to workmen.
For some time past a big Advertisement haa
appeared in Its columns daily headed:
Gives Pistols for Prizes
prizes for our readers and offering re-
v~olvers at specially low prices, One Of the
weapons offered, described as; a cowboy
revolver, is sold for s francs 20 centimes,
while more formidable weapons are offered
at II francs. 1t is stated that 1000 revolv-
ers have been sold in the last four months
which fact explains the frequency of re,
volver firing In the recent disorders.
The rioters have been temporarily awed
by the display of armed forces. Up TO moor
today no further disturbances had occurred
here. The number of police, gendarmes and
soldiers at the disposal of the authorities
appears sumClent 10 cope VIII ulbIuTDhuCeb
so long as the troops remain loyal.
The strike continues to spread in thu
central coal districts. Elsewhere the
socialist leaders are trying to keep thu
men at work until Monday or Tuesday
when they contemplate an important move
, ment.
Perhaps the most significant event o
yesterday was the open rupture in tn
Chamber of Deputies between the socialist
and the liberal faction, heretofore associ
ated with the former, with the object o
} forcing the government to grant universe
suffrage. This split notably strengthens tn
government in the present crisis. as tn
coalition of the moderate parties promise
to last as long as the incipient revolution
continues.
3 Rioters Tinctured with Anarchy.
: The police. gendarmes and civic guards
who are all regarded as thoroughly trust
? worthy, are being utilized. SO far as pos
sible, in dealing with those who take par
I'm demonstrations, but not In riots. Thes
I demonstrations are mostly composed O
earnest socialists. whilss'the rioters ar
more closely allied with anarchism.
Regarding the troops, there is no doub
that they are leavened with socialism
= Many men In the ranks have been heard I
expound socialistic doctrines and there I
some apprehension as to their loyalty whe
the acute state of the agitation lie reache
= with the beginning Of the strike next weeh
q The government has taken the most com
. prehensive measures not to be taken b
? surprise and is firmly resolved not I
. yield to the revolutionary movement, hold
ing that in order to deal properly with tn
questions of the revision OF the constitutio
!" and universal suffrage 1t Is essential tina
Parliament be called to deliberate un
} influenced by the mob.
In consequence of the receipt OF a lette
threatening to blow up with dynamite tn
works at La Louviere, unless work there
stopped. the manager has shut down tn
factory and has ordered the 1900 employees
who include 500 women. to immediatel
leave the premises.
A dispatch from Mons announces ths
preparatory to a general strike at tn
Borinage coal mines. April IA. the me
Ia - ~ IA. 49,. $1,000