Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1913-04-26
MOTIVES BACK OF
STRIKE OF
Unequal Distribution Of the
Ballot Privilege Was the
Cause of the Trouble.
TOT in many years has the Bel
N gian government faced such
v serious situation as that created

Z fM Il ~ - t'NS vas Atdo VIC ASttT
nj gian government faced such a
4 serious situation as that created
by the great manhood suf-
frage" strike which was recently de-
T clared and which. according to con-
servatiye estimates, called $4,000
workmen from their employment al
most instantly.
Although the strike had been an
nounced in advance and extensive
preparations had been made to Offset
/ its Influence, the trouble quickly be-
came more widespread than the Off
cials had anticipated and the result in
i many districts was a complete stop
/ ping of all industry. Suffering and
I great Inconvenience followed as nat
ural consequences.
While much has been printed in this
country about the disturbances little
/ attention has been given to explaining
the trouble back of the great strike
The Strike Explained.
4 A concise and accurate explanation
/ OF the motive was stated as follows by
one familiar with the circumstances:
"The strike is a protest against the
i refusal of the Belgian government to
introduce the new franchise bill en-
4 The present Belgian house of rep
resentatives was elected on the prin-
ciple of proportionate representation.
THAT principle, in brief, is as fol-
! lows: Every male Belgian who Is twen-
ty-fve years old who has resided one
year in his commune and who is not
legally disqualified has one vote.
IF he is married or is widower
with children and pays 81 year direct
taxation he receives a second vote.
Persons holding official positions, hav-
ing university degrees or owning prop
! erfy worth certain sum get two extra
votes. No person, however, Is permit
ted to use more than three votes.
"The Socialists want the entire sys-
tenn of plural voting abolished and de-
mand that every Belgian citizen. male
and female, over lineage of twenty-one,
be given one vote, and one vote only"
A Socialist Movement.
The beginning of the strike was
Socialist movement The Catholic
workmen. who have organizations of
their own. did not sanction the strike,
The Socialist leaders announced that
1t was to be strike of folded arms"
and that no violence need be feared.
In other words. the plan made in adj
vance was to try to paralyze all indus
try in Belgium or as much as would
be necessary to bring about a situation
of extreme gravity.
The strike began at dawn April IA.
when the might shifts quit the mines
and mills throughout the country, leav-
ing them empty save for few care
takers told off by the Socialist party
to keep the property from deteriorat-
ing
At least quarter of a million men
laid down their tools. according to re-
ports given out in representative non
Socialist quarters. There were numer-
Gus exceptions to the general walkout
In many districts.
The strike was complete in places
such as the mining districts, but only
partial In the great seaport Of Antwerp.
where the shipping continued loading
and unloading as though nothing had
occurred.
Reports from the provinces told of
complete or nearly complete stoppage
of work at Liege, Chartered, Mons, La
II Louviere and other smaller cities. At
Mons alone it was estimated that there
were 10000 strikers and at La Lou
Were 10000, most of them belonging
to the metal, carriage building and to-
bacco trades.
Raoul Warocque, a deputy and mine
owner, declared his intention of sub
scribing $4,000 daily to the strike
fund.
Work Stopped at Liege.
Work ceased in the greater number
of the Industrial concerns at Liege and
In the surrounding suburbs of Bres-
SIOUX. Jupllle. and Wandre. OF $500
workmen 1,400 remained at their ma
chimes.
In the national arms factory at Her
stall the strike was complete.
All the coal miners at Seraing, Je-
moppe. Tilleur Mentegnee, Female
Haute. Flemalle-Grande and st. Mich
olas stopped work
OF the $4,000 coal miners in the Mons
district all quit their work except 1000
who kept the machinery running. All
the manufactures also were idle, in
Guiding the machine shops and potter
les.
The suspension of work at the coal
mines in the Chartered district was
complete the first day. except that suf-
icient men remained at their posts 10
keep the machinery in good order and
the pumps working. The metal work
ers only partially quit, The total mum
Der on strike at Chartered was 59,961
out of 1886 employees in the various