The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-04-10
GENERAL STRIKE
AS LAST MEASURE

NJ LHOI MLHOUR[.
Continued From First Page.)
1000 from Holland and 900 from Ger
mnny.
Trade has Increased in all kinds Of
preserved foods. beans. rico and flour.
and the sales of Illuminating oils and
candies have tripled
Last Desperate Measure.
The strike has been decided on by
the Belgium Socialist party as the last
desperate measure to make the govern
meht give Belgium n system OF plural
voting now In practice. Its success
or non success Will be OF consequence
TO the world at large. for if IL sue
ceeds 1t VIII demonstrate the practical
b,iity OF tho strike as political wea-
pom Previous attempts at politics.
as distinSuished from economic. strikes
nave invariably ended in failure not
aoly In Spain and France, and tho
opinion has been generally held that
the political strike IS impossible
me belgian movement appears 10
rave Deen planned with extraordinary
skill ana care: the workers are deter
mined and full Of faith In the Justice
OF their cause. Tho resources mt their
disposal arc considerable. both in
money and Kind. and they have the
practical. though unofficial support Of
the Liberals, none the less vigorous
from being indirect. The proprietor OF
The Liberal newspaper. the Petit Rleu
has promised formally TO pay $4,000
per week into the strike fund az long
as the movement lasts. and the striI..
weeks
Many Belgians believe that this
strike will prove "A turning point IN
the history of Belgium: that IL will re
pun IN poHtical changes of incalculable
"a MI
reHolution-the separation of the Wal
loon and Flemish provinces. or :, dy
nastic crisis.
Mean" Economic Catastrophe.
Inc government, faced with this Sc
iious problem. meaning economic ca
, tastrophe for an Industrial country Xix
beieium. has occupied itself chiefly II,
making arrangements TO rcpress disor-
der. which the Socialists deridc "a thcy
are determined the strike shall be
peaceful
The Socialists chiefs. Emile Wander
Neide ana Edouard Ansc.le affirm that
any violence which may occur will be
provoked by the government. and not
by them
It is understood that all the ron-
darmes to DO called upon. a. we'll
as the civil guard. and several classes
oil troops modified to guard the rail-
roads and assure the public services
. Large coal orders have been placed in
]
constant supply OF fael for the state
railroads
The primary cause OF the movement
was the defeat OF tho Liberal ana so.
cthlist coalition in the parliamentary
! elections OF 1912. The Socialist con
Eress. specially summoned June 90 OF
that year, decided to make use OF a
general strike If ALI other means OF
Obtaining manhood suffrage rallied.
Before resortinS To that measure. {,
general suffrage bill was introduced
Into Parliament By tho Socialists ana
supported by the Liberals. This was
refused all consideration by the Cleri-
cal majority, ana a general str was
voted for April u.
Steps were taken on all sides 10 try
to settle matters. The buraomnstcr
or the nine principal cities were re-
ccived By the Premier. who. while de-
clarin6 that no government worthy OF
The name would allow itself 10 be in
undated by the threats OF the MOB.
said that If the menace or It general
strike were removed, he would be dis.
| posed 10 talk
The Socialist national committee
thereupon cancelled KS previous de-
sion and .-~.gium brcs,thcd anew
General Strike Voted
ne government however. made no
move at all, and the Socialist Congress
at Easter again voted the general
strike. and on Monday coal mines VIII
! be deserted, furnaces shut down ana
factories and workshops abandoned
big cities Will be without light o.
/ street cars and the port of Antwerp
! without dock lnborcrs.
The country is in complete gloom.
I and u is felt that every person is
/ likely 10 suffer in some way, what
ever position he or she may occupy.
I'm ,,-.tf .,s
/ what divided. and the voting on the
strike In the lodges throughout Bel
GUM Indicated that from q quarter to
/ third of their number is opposed 20
! the movement
y good many influential! pcrsona
nope that as the hour approaches a
| compromise will be arranged