Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-04-15
Quarter Of a Million Work
ers Leave Their Posts
in Belgium Today; Take
Care Of Plants.
MANY CRAFTS ARE
E STILL AT WORK
Miners and Mill WORKERS.
the First to Leave Their
Positions; More Expect.
ed to Strike Tomorrow, j

Brussels, April 1.-THE vast politt
cal strike planned by the Belgian
socialist trade unions began 1t dawn
To-Day. The first workingmen to take
part IN the movement were the night
shifts Of the mines and mills through
out the country. They left the vart
GUS plants in charge OF q few care
takers. named by the socialist leaders
TO keep the property from deterior
ating.
At least 25O, 900 men laid down their
Tools during the morning. There were
numerous exceptions to the Ron oral
Walkout In many districts, however.
me strike is complete in such places
as the mining districts, but is scarcely
discernible In some localities.
In Brussels itself the strike must
pc looked for In order to be found.
Probably one-fourth of the workmsu
|e-gaged In the suburban factories did
not report for work today. The socialist
committee here estimated at IL o'clock
that 10000 men had struck IN the
capital. .7's
Reports from the provinces tell Of
complete or nearly complete stoppage
Iof work at Liege, Charleroi, Mons.
La Louviere and smaller cities. ~
Mons there are 10000 strikers and &C
Ia Louviere 10000 most or them bes
longing TO- the metal, carriage build.
Ing and tobacco trades.
At the great seaport or Antwerp
the strike began late In the day and
then only affected q part Of the dock
laboreres.
Men Care for Machinery.
Charleroi. Belgium, April H.. The
suspension Of work at the public
mines in this district was completed
this morning. Suhlcient number 81
men remained at their posts to keep
the machinery In good order and the
pumps working. rs.
The metal workers Of the vicinity
have only partially quit their employ.
ment, but 1t Is understood that to-
morrow the remainder OF the men In
this trade will lay down their tools.
Strike Nearly Unanimous.
La Louviere, Belgium. April II The
miners strike here was general this
morning. All factories closed their
doors except pottery which was run
ming full force. The streets were oper.
ated as usual during the forenoon as3
the strike OF the motormen and con.
ductors was timed to begin at, I
o'clock this evening. Some attempts
were made early to cut telegraph
wires in the vicinity.
Dock Work Suspends.
Antwerp, April 14-Although not al
the strikes appear to affect this port
in anyway this morning there was a
partial suspension Of work by dock
laborers later in the day. The move
ment also extended to other branches.
Everything is quiet
Suspension 10 General.
Liege, Belgium, April A.-Work
ceased this morning In. the greater
number Of industrial concerns here
and surrounding suburbs. It Is esti-
mated that only 1.4OO workmen re-
NAMED at their machines.
In the national arms factory az
Herstal the strike was complete. All
the coal miners in this district have
stopped work.
Sentiment 10 Divided.
Client, Belgium. April IA The pot
teries in this neighborhood are All
silent today but at the linen and cotton
mills, more than half the hands re-
mained at work The metal workers
went out but few cement workers
are still at work.