The evening Republican., 1902-04-18
GOVERNMENT YIELDS
Belgian Premier Consents to
a Vote on Suffrage.
WILD SCENE IN CHAMBEROF DEPUTIES
Socialist Lenders Threaten RevOlu.
tiOn and BlOOJshed When Closure
Of Debate Is Proposcil-The
Strike situation.

BRUSSELS, April 1S.-The strikers
in the Liege district now number no.
900, and the strike at Vervicrs. four
teen miles east of I.iege, has extended
to all the surrounding commllnes.
Tho striking miners at La L0uviere,
fourteen miles west of Charlcro, how
ever, declare that they will resume
work shortly. At IIerstal, three and
a half miles northeast of Licge, 1000
men have returned to work.
The debate OH the proposed revision
Of the Belgian constitution was re-
sumed in the chamber of representa-
tives. Al. Braun, Liberal. advocated
a speedy closing OF the debate in the
interest of the whole country, and the
premier. NJ de Smet dc Mayer. hearth
Iy indorscd the suggestion. He said
that the nation was anXiously await
Ing their decision and proposed that
the house continue sitting until the
question was settled.
The Socialists protested against the
adoption of the proposal. but the pre-.
micr insisted on its adoption.
NJ. Van der Vrlde, the Socialist lead
er. criticised the governments atti-
tudc. Instead of extending the olive
branch. he asserted the premier offer
ed fresh provocaton. The Socialists
were absolutely opposed to the con.
clusion of the discussion yesterday on
the ground thGt important events
might shortly occur.
The speaker pointed to the fact that
there were 100000 men on strike and
that they enjoyed the respect of the
middle classes. Phs statement was
greeted with Socialist shouts of:
1.-The government thirsts for bloodw
The premier maintained the wisdom
of the proposal for IL speedy close Of
the debate
Socialist. shouts of "rrickeryw
"freachcry" 1T will be the signal for
n revolution" followed the premier's
remarks.
At this juncturc NJ. Van der Vcldc
crossed the floor and held Il brief con.
rcrsation with the premier. during
which NJ. lroclct. Socialist. cried:
'''rhtn you want blood to flow to-
morrow
The premier having reiterated his
unalterable adhesion TO the proposal
to close the debate, the Socialists broke
out into considerable uprOar and
clinchcd their fists thrcateningly. hut
they confined themselves to that and to
ul;ering shouts Of defiance.
The dehnte was then continued by
the premier, who amid frequent inter-
ruptions declared that a further revi-
sion of the constitution would not ac-
cord with the desires Of the country.
lie did not believe that universal suf-
fra@c would be conducive to the main
t"nnnce of free institutions in Relgi-
um. The government was prepared to
examine hereafter arrangements cal
culaicd to improve the conditions of
the country. but il would not agree to
adopt universal suffrage pure and sim
pie, which, he claimed, the Socialists
nlone desired.
A revision Of the constitutions the
premier further asserted. would plunge
the country into turmoil. and the gov
rrnment utterly declined to he driven
at the dirtation Of the popuace and
under threats Of strike agitation and
violence.
Renewed Socialist uproHr. including
threats of civil war and shouts of You
have murdered one of the people, fol-
lowed this announcement.
After violent speech by NJ Jan
son. l'rogressiOnst. VINO declared the
government was forcing the country
over the brink of civil war, the pre-
mirr said the government was willing
'Tnr The sake of peace to withdraw the
closure proposal.
NJ. Van der Nclde agreed to this. and
the chamber unanimously fixed the
hour for the vote on the question of
revision Of the constitution at & o'clock
this afternoon.