Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-22
BELGIUM STRIKE
COMES TO AN END
Government Yields Working
men the Chief Points of
Their Demands.
KING ALBERT THROWS
INFLUENCE FOR PEACE
Victory Means Reforms by Which
System of Plural Voting Will
Be Eliminated.

DAsC CoSELS, 3Aprll ZI.-The political
strike in Belgium, after keeping at a
standstill the countrys industry and COM
merce for ten days, was today brought
to conclusion favorable to the work.
men. nearly half million of whom laid
down their tools to enforce their demand
for equal suffrage.
The leaders of the socialist trades
unions and their followers gained their
chief point. which was to make the gov
ernment take up for consideration a
change of the Belgian parliamentary
franchise with it's hated system of plural
votes for the wealthier and more educat-
ed classes.
Single Votes Overwhelmed.
At the last returns 993,O7O men DOS
sessed one vote. 395 S66 two votes, and
3os.6s3 three votes. SO that the single
votes We're always overwhelmed.
This is the first occasion on record
in which "A political strike has result
ed in victory for the strikers and the
whole movement has been notable for
the energy and the determination dis
played and for the excellent control
shown by the men.
They have not yet obtained their full
demand, but the socialist leaders ex-
press confidence that the consideration
of their claims will result in the
franchise being made equal for all.
Deputies Pass Resolution.
When the chamber of deputies met
this afternoon there was a tense feel
ing of expectancy. The conciliatory
motion of F. Massen, the liberal lead
er. was taken up Immediately
Deputy Liebaert. a clerical, propos ed
an additional clause reading: The
chamber disapproves and condemns the
general strike"
Premier de Broqueville accepted the
motion as amended and asked the other
| members OF his party not to suggest
any changes
The socialist leader. Emile Vande-
| velde. then spoke. saying: We. the
deputies of the left support NJ Mas
i sons motion for compromise. IT re-
| mains for us to convOke "A socialist con-
sress. which alone has the power to de.
/ eide whether the strike shall end or not
but We have the conviction that Tho
| adoption of the motion will be step ir
advance
The first part of the motion was ther
adopted unanimously by the chamber.
Terms of the Settlement.
! The compromise provides that th
| equalization of the parliamentary fran
| chise shall be Immediately taken up 70
! consideration in the event that a parlis
mentary committee now dealing with ti
provincial and communal franchise shat
| evolve plan improving on the presen
| mthoG
King Albert conferred for a long tim
! with Premier Charles de Broqueville. ant
| II was agreed to settle the strike b. max
| ing concessions to the workers.
Figures issued by the government show
| that the number of strikers is abou
| 5'1oU Leaders of the socialist trad
| unions. which organized the strike. declar
! tnat .a"'" Is nearer the correct figure.
| In Brussels the number of strikers wa
| increased by 2.0O today. Among tn
| strike contributions today there were sub
scriptions from the Young Turks of Con
| siantinople and from the Austrian so
| cialists.
| \ resolution of sympathy with th
! strike OF the Belgian workers for eaua
suffrage was adopted today by meet
Ing OF 2oo employees of the state railroads
at Liege. who disregarded the order O
the minister of the interior forbiddin;
them TO meet.