Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-04-22

The spirit of unrest has broken out in
Brussels. The visit of delegation of
Spanish republican deputies was the sig
nal for demonstrations by the socialists.
When the SpaniardS were ordered out
of the country Indignation took the form
of riot at the railroad station as they
were leaving. and when King Leopold
happened by from Biarritz a forest Of red
flags greeted him, and he barely escaped
a mobbing. Since then the little country
has been in an uproar that may not cul-
inmate without a serious clash between
the soldiery and the people. The labor
situation is ominous. while the cry for
universal suffrage has become more and
more imperative.
Apparently Belgium is about to furnish
an interesting test of the extent to which
the idea of universal suffrage is making
Roadway in monarchical Europe.
After months of violent political dis
turbances, occasionally leading 10 open
| riot, the Belgian government confronts a
| serious crisis. The socialists, with the
Support of the liberal party, are demand
l.ing revision of the election laws and
the adoption of the zone man one vote
| principle. Ostensibly Belgium has uni
yersal suffrage now, but the restrictions
as to voting are such that one man may
EAST three ballots where another casts but
one. A Belgian may vote once il he has
no property, twice if he has a little real
estate or certain sum in the bank and
| three times if he has both property and
! certain educational qualifications. In
| this way about >, 100000 votes are east
by total Of only 100000 voters. To
complicate matters still further, the Bel
gian parliament in 1890 adopted an in
tricate system Of proportional represent
| ation," which has the effect Of perpetu-
ating the present party in power and pre-
venting coalitions among the socialists,
| liberals and radicals.
| a dispatch from La Louyiere, a town
in the Province of Haiuaut, announces
! shat in accordance with the decision OF
the labor leaders a general strike has
teen begun in the coal mines, glass works
and factories Of the central districts, in
Guiding Mariemont and Bascoup,
| Adviees from Liege say that general
J strike has been started in the Goa! mines
Of the Seraing district and al the Nettin
foundres at Solessin. The qu'uryi0en Of
the Ambleve Valley also have struck
From Mons troops have started for dill.
rcrcnt points in the Borihage district. Al
| Cuesmes, a town III the Province OF Hal
naut. 5000 strikers assembled around
the state arsenal with the object Of stop
| ping work. The weavers of Client arc
ceasing work and a general strike of Tho
weaving trade viii be declared. The
| great strike has begun at Charleroi
| where $1,000 of the 10000 coal miners
have stopped work.
A general strike has been declared ii
most of the large boot and shoe factories
Adequate measures have been taken L
enable the soldiers to reinforce the po
lice at a moments notice at any point
required As similar strike ordered in
1899 very nearly put a stop to all indus.
trial activity in Belgium, the threat is
serious. Behind it lies the still moro Sc
rious menace Of an actual revolt, for the
more hot-headed socialists are ripe fol
action, and it is a question whether King
Leopold's conscript army would be loya
to him as against the strikers.
Altogether the situation is typical Of :
| well-delined tendency in those States
wherein monarchical or aristocratic forms
| exist side by side with strong popular
impulse toward absolute democracy. A,
the present crisis may mark turning
| point in the general evolution of the uni
| versal suffrage principle it viii be vel
| worth watching