The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-04-22
Half Million WOrkmen in Bel
gium Return to LabOrS.
Government Will Consider
Equal Suffrage Demands.
FIRST VICTORY IN HISTORY
Only Time Political WaIkOut
Favored Strikers.
For 10 Days COuntry's Com
merce Was at StandStiH.

Brussels, April 22.-The political
strike in Belgium after keeping at a
standstill the countrys industry and
commerce for ten days was today
brought to a conclusion favorable to
the workmen nearly half million of
whom to enforce a demand of equal
suffrage had laid down their tools.
The socialist trades union leaders
and their followers gained their chief
point which was to make the govern
ment take up for consideration a
change of the Belgium parliamentary
franchise with its system of plural
votes for the wealthier and more edu-
Gated classes.
At the last returns, 993,O7O men
possessed one vote, 395,S66 two votes
and 30S,6S3 three votes, so that the
single votes were always oVerwhelm-
ed This is the first occasion on rec
ord in which a political strike has re-
suited in victory for the strikers. The
whole movement has been notable for
the energy and determination display
ed and for the excellent control shown
by the men.
They have not yet obtained their
full demand, but the socialist leaders
express confidence that the consider
alton of their claims will result in
the franchise being made equal for
all.
When the chamber of deputies met
this afternoon there was an intense
feeling of expectancy. Tb motion of
F. Mason, the Liberal leader, was
taken up Immediately. Deputy Lie
baert, a clerical proposed an addition
al clause reading:
t"The chamber disapproves and
condemns the general strike
Premier deBrouqueville accepted the
motion as amended and asked the
other members of his party not to
suggest any more changes.
The Socialist Leader Emile Vande-
ve1de then spoke, saying: I'VE the
deputies of the left, support NJ. Mas
sons motion for a compromise. 1t
remains for US to convoke a Socialist
congress which alone has the power
to decide whether the strike shall end
or not, but we have the conviction
that the adoption of the motion will
be a step in advance
The first part of the motion was
then adopted unanimously by the
chamber of deputies
King Albert conferred for a long
time with Premier Charles De
Broqueville today and it was agreed
to settle the strike by making conces-
sions to the workers, who complain of
the system by which persons enjoying
higher incomes or having a superior
education are given supplementary
votes. The workers assert that these
extra votes have Swamped them at the
parliamentary ballots and have per-
mitted the clerical party to remain in
power without interruption for more
than 20 years. Figures issued by the
show that the number
of strikers is about 375.000. Leaders
of the socialist trade unions which or
gained the strike declare that 500,-
0G0 is nearer the correct figure. In
Brussels the number of strikers WAS
increased by 1000 today. Among the
strike contributions today were sub
scrip tions from the young Turks of
Constantinople and from the Austria 4
Socialists
The Socialists voted against the
second part of the motion but it was
carried by the Conservatives and Lib
erals, the vote standing 124 to 80. The
Socialists abstained from voting when
the two parts of the motion were TAX
en- together. In that way it was car
ried by a vote of 1873 to 2.
Valsaint Lamberth, Belgium, April
strike was brought to an
end this morning by the return of
all workers to the glass factories,
which are the most important in Bel