The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-13
WHAT SOCIALISTS DESIRE.
Interview with vi. Won Der VeIde,
Leader of the Movement.

BRUSSELS. April 12.-The soul of the
Socialist movement in Belgium is NJ. Van
Der Velde, a member of the Chamber of
Deputies, who is a brilliant speaker and
has great influence over the masses. He
is tall and 1.-the. with a quiet manner. He
recently married an English woman, who
is also an active Socialist and is president
of the woman's Federation of Belgium.
A representative of the Associated Press
interviewed NJ Van Der velde at the close
of the days session OF the chamber. He
evinced the utmost readiness to explain
to the American public the situation in
Belgium.
1--WE are determined TO go on now" he
said, until we have secured revision. I'm
der the present unjust electoral regime the
workingman has only 10000 votes out of
100000 whereas under the one-man-vote
system we would have 100000 out of 1,200,-
600. The general strike Monday will tes-
tify to the strength of the Socialist party.
We count on 100000 strikers in the mining
and industrial districts where our call Ger
tainly will be generally answered. We
have invited the men TO act according to
the best interests of their districts. and
thus there Will be no strike at Client,
where the textile industry is undergoing a
crisis but there will be demonstrations in
favor of universal suffrage. The workmen
Monday 70 show to the government the
feeling that exists here. We are urging
the men to remain absolutely pacific but
minor conflicts such as have occurred are
hardly avoidable I'm view OF the excited
feeling that prevails and the fact that the
younger men are difficult of control, espe-
cially in view of the aggressive attitude Of
the police"
Asked il he thought the Anarchists were
prOhting by the opportunity afforded them
by the demonstrations recently made. NJ.
Van Der Velde said he thought not. adding
that their number in Belgium is insignif-
cant. He admitted that there were a few
Anarchists in Liege and the other coal
fields. but declared that they had little in
fluence with the workmen. He does not be-
lieve that the explosion a the National
Bank on Monday was perpetrated by An
archists or Revisionists. but thinks il was
merely the act Of mischief-maker.
Regarding the demonstration against the
King last Wednesday he declared it was
quite unprecedented. Nevertheless" said
he. I'VE approve IL and favor any demon
stration of a peaceful character which will
show the King that we want revision 1t
is true that cries of 'Vive republique' were
raised but though we Socialists favor a re-
public our immediate aim is the revision of
the Constitution
Concerning the revolutionary songs and
cries raised by some of the reservists called
out this week NJ. Van Der Velde said:
They were quite incomprehensible The
army is composed mostly of poor men. be-
cause the rich purchase subs titutes Thus
a large number OF the soldiers are Social
lists. / believe that. in the event Of dis
turbances, If the soldiers were ordered to
fire on the strikers 30 or 60 per cent of them
would refuse to obey would fire in the
air. This. however, would not be the case
I'm Brussels. where the civic guard would
obey their officers, because they are largely
recruited from the bourgeoise II the gov
eminent accepts revision the general strike
will end Immediately. but IL IL refuses |
cannot predict what Will happen"