The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-04-17
RAIN POLLS
 THE RIOTERS The Brussels DemOnStra
 tiOn Falls Flat. REVISION DEBATE BEGINS Progressist Ferron's Long Speech Not Interesting. Now Believed That the Governmsuf Will Refuse to Grant Any of
 the Demands of the
 Socialists
REVISION DEBATE BEGINS

Brussels, April 1s.-The galleries of the Chamber of Representatives were filled to their capacity today when the consti- tuition revision debate began. M. Bernaert, the former president of the chamber and Secretary of State.
 opened the discussion. He was ire quently interrupted by M. Van de velde. the Socialist leader. with shouts of "unt-t versal suffrage is supreme" M. Bernaert expressed the belief that the present Belgian electoral system was satisfac- tory. kss After the speech of M. Bernaert, and a speech delivered by M. Ferron. Pro, gressist. which monopoiized almost the. entire session and fell very fiat. the.
 opening day of the debate on the pro- posed revision of the constitution ended. in what was almost g fiasco.
 The members were evidently waiting for the delivery of the speeches of the. Socialist and Liberal leaders and the res
 ponse of the Premier, NJ. De smet de-
 Mayor. tomorrow and Friday. when 1t is expected a vote will be taken which will instill life into the parliamentary procesd- ings.
 Demonstration Was Made. The promised great demonstration in the streets on the adjournment of the chamber dwindled to the appearance of 200 persons, who accompanied the Social- ist deputies to the office of their organ, Le Peuple, where M. Van der Velde, aA a | The collapse of the proposed demon- stration 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 question.
 A feeling is gaining ground that the government will entirely reject the pro posed revision of the constitution.
 Prince Albert, son of the Count of | Flanders and heir presumptiye to the l throne of Belgium, is major in the l Grenadisr Guards. at present held m | readiness for emergencies. The Prince declined q proposition to be replaced tenn
 porarily as major of the Grenadiers. He said: If my men are called to post
 of danger, 1t will be my duty to lead | them.'
 Conflict With Troops. Dispatches from Liege announce that
  at Seraing had conflict with the troops
 there. The soldiers charged and the
 strikers retaliated with a fusiIlade of
 stones. Some of the rioters finally sought refuge in the taverns which were 1 wrecked.
 | A dynamite cartridge was exploded dur l ing the day on the railroad track near
 Arlon. The explosion damaged the rail-
 road bridge. but traffic was not inter | rupted.
 Serious disorders have occurred at l Cockerils, in the coal fields of Seraing. A 1 detachment of lancers Was compelled to | repeatedly charge a mob numbering | about 1000 persons engaged in throwing
 stones at the troops. Many persons were | injured. The cafes in which the rioters |, took refuge were sacked.
 This evening it was announced that | i50,O00 were out on strike in the districts of Mons, Charleroi and Liege alone. Many | men have stopped work in other sections
 of the country. but 1t Is difficult to ac-
 ct1rately estimate their numbers. It Is ! known. however. that 5000 men have | struck at Antwerp.