Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-04-17
Belgian Workmen Have
Left Jobs and Through
Inactivity Threaten to
Tie Up Railroads.
CLAIM 100000 HAVE
LAID DOWN TOOLS
Government Admits That
2570OO are Idle; Move is
Not Successful in All the
Cities Of Belgium.

otoItLHeHC issued Dy the ministry OF
the interior this morning admits that
257,0O0 men have joined the nation'a
political strike OF the Belgian work
ers who have chosen this means Of
forcing the grant OF manhood suffrage
and the abolition OF the system ~
which wealthy citizens are given
plural voting power.
The socialist leaders today clair1el
that the total number Of strikers III
over 100000.
1t is stated that the Belgian govern.
ment finds itself with a very small
supply of coal to run the state raii-
roads. This supply Is likely to h0
exhausted by the end Of the week,
thus crippling transportation facilities.
Lack of fuel will also cause the stop
page OF many electric and gas plants
and prevent many thousands OF non.
strikers from working.
Emile Vandervelde. the socialist
leader, today completed tour OF the
provinces Of Hainaut and Namuru.
He summed up his observations ~ fol-
lows: U
All business ID stagnated throush.y
lout the industrial district or tn
208, 900 workmen insthe two province1,
163 900 are striking
From various parts OF the country
reports show that in some places the
movement has been very successful,
while In others, more especially dis
trfcts under the control of the Catholic
unions, the men are lukewarm.
Violence has been exceptional since
the order to quit work was given on
Monday, only few cases OF destruc-
tiOn OF property or interference with
nOn-strikers having occurred.
Fear For Exhibition.
Client, Belgium, April 16.-One OF
the most serious results Of the social
list strike throughout Belgium will be
It's effect on the international exhibi-
tfon which the king is to open here
next week The mayor Of Ghent said
today:
Il have grave fears that the strike
will seriously injure the exhibition,
Sixty per cent of the British exhibitors
have decided to retire from participa-
tion and thirty per cent OF the French
exhibitors have followed their ex-
ample. hear also that the American
exhibitors are hesitating"
The exposition buildings and
grounds will be ready for the opening
on April 26 as only fifty out of 1900
workmen employed there have struck.
The civil guards today dispersed
200 strikers who were threatening an
attack on wire factory here.
Little Progress In Antwerp.
Antwerp, Belgium, April 26.-- The
number Of strikers at this seaport
reached $1,000 today There seems no
inclination on the part of other work.
men to Join the movement.
Numbers Increased.
Liege, Belgium, April 16. The
strike is spreading here. The socialist
policy, It now appears, was MOTTO
show the full strength Of the move
ment during the first few days, but 10
let the stoppage OF industry be pro,
gressive. Several hundred more ma
chinists employed at the national arms
factory came out today.
Excitement is beginning to make
itself evident. A number OF arrests
were made this morning Of persons
accused Of interfering with those will
ing to work
Catholics oppose Strike.
Verviers, Belgium, April 16.The
difference Of opinion between the
workmen here as to whether they shall
Join the strike or not is on sharply re-
ligious grounds. The Catholic unions
remain steadfast in declining TO- go
out, while the socialists and nom
sectarian workmen place the political
issue above the religious one.
Strikers Mock Troops.
La Louviere, Bilgaum. April is. H..
The troops In this city were busy this
morning tearing down anti.military
posters which had been pasted up; dur
Ing the night. Each squad Of soldiers
was surrounded by group Of strikera
who Knocked them. q II
The municipal street cleaners today
joined the strike, which Is nearly com.
plete in this district. ii
Strike Spreading In Huy.
Huy, Belgium, April 1.-THE strike
is spreading among the paper makers
and tin plate workers OF this district.
many of whom laid down their tools
to-day.