The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1913-05-03

In the Socialist Movement
in Their Own Native
Land.

.
gRU5sHss May two men
.lhave come 20 the forefrOnt n public
.lattention as a result Of the recent po-
iitieaI strike in Belgium, each adding
to his popularity and his record as
successful Socialist leader. They
! are men Of widely divergent charac
terIstics, Emile vaRdervelde, the
gifted and brilliant: intellectual. and
Edward Anseele, the youthful en-
1thusiast, and each in his particular
held contributed materially to tie
measurable progress made in the
last month toward manhood suRrsge
in Belgium.
I vandervelde who has led the So
eiaiists OF this country since tho
death OF Jean volders, is approach
ling his aftieth birthday. In his
youth he studied Law, but his inter
est in social questions prevented his
practscing. He Is possessed Of high
literary gifts, wide knowledge, an
is an able statesman. OF markedly
pale complexion, slightly aQuiliEe
nose, and penetrating eyes, Wander
veide's tace once seen is rarely for
gotten. He was elected to the Cham
Der. of Deputies in 1884. and rapidly
distinguished himself by his eio-
quence and intellectual superiority
AS a speaker he is remarkable fog
his distinct utterance, the preciseness
and clearness of his though and the
logic of his reasoning. He is a mag
n1fcent debater, never losing has
temper, and keeping his head in the
most difficult situations.
Yandervelde.s reasons for belong
ing to the Socialist party are rather
those of the head than the heart His
convictions are purely Intellectual
He is, and always has been, a deter
mined opponent of the recent gen
Ieral strike, which he believes viii
ony delay the triumph of the cause
OF Socialism. But the majority Of
the party having pronounced in ia
vor OF the strike. VanderveIde
bowed to the decision and cooper
atcd in the common work to the best
of his ability.
The other Socialist, leader, Edward
Anseele, founder OF the --Vooruir,"
of Client, presents a striking contrast
in every way TO Wandervelde. d
open and engaging countenance, Dos
sessed of a warm and vibrant voice
Anseele charms all who come in coz
tact with him. He is an excellent
speaker, using wealth OF imagery
to convey his meaning. which he
further forces wit hvigorous sest-
ures. Possessing no personal means
he lives on his deputy's salary OF
$500 a year and an income of $416,
which he gets as a director OF the
..vooruit.' He contributes nearly
half this small revenue TO the Soeil-
list cause.
Unlike vanderyelde. AnseeIe is
a working man and the son of
working man. UIe has known tae
worlds rough hand> His father was
a shoemaker, but wanting earnestly
to give his son some education. he
Iabored with extreme self-renunc.a-
ton to this end Young Anseele wss.
employed in turn by an architect, y
scotsman a cloth merchant One
hyenIng he entered Socialist meet
mig and was SO profoundly impressed
by the picture of the misery of The
people drawn by the speaker, that.
he at once enrolled himself in the
ranks of the international" The
next day, having conhded his new po-
litical views to his employer, he was
summariIy dismissed Not daring to
show himself TO his fatheE. he ran
away TO Antwerp, whence he worked
his way to London. During six mouths
he wandered about the British cap
ital often sleeping under the bridges
He tried to enlist in the army, but
was rejected on account of lack OF
inches.
Eventually the young man return
ed to Client, where he bacame
printer. In association with others
he organized a cooperative bakery.
This was the beginning of the
.'vooruit." now famous throughout
Belgium. ''vooruft'' Is a Flemish
word meaning forward" and it has
become the ra1lying cry of the So
cialists of Client The organization
which at the end of its first year,
counted only 500 members, now has
over 5000. and it owns warehouses
and other buildings valued at $780,
loOO