The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-05-06

by the great manhood suf-
frage" strike which was recently de-
clared and which, according to con
servative estimates, called 250,0o0
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
many districts was a complete stop
ping Of all industry. Suffering and
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.
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
refusal of the Belgian government to
introduce the new franchise bill en-
bodying equal and universal suffrage.
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-five 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 a widower
with children and pays 81 a year direct
taxation he receives a second vote
Persons holding official positions, hav-
ing university degrees or owning prop
erty worth a 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 the age Of twenty-one,
be given one vote, and one vote only"
A Socialist Movement.
The beginning of the strike was a
Socialist movement. The Catholic
workmen, who have organizations Of
their own, did not sanction the strike.
The Socialist leaders announced that
it was to beAa "strike of folded arms"
and that nd siolence need be feared.
In other words, the plan made in ad-
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 night 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 a 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
anu as lhOu5h hOlhAbE htih
occurred.
Reports from the provinces told OF
complete or nearly complete stoppage
of work at Liege, Charleroi, Mons, La
Louviere and other smaller cities. Al
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, deputy and mine
owner, declared his intention of sub
i scribing $4,000 daily to the strike
kund.
Work Stopped at Liege.
Work ceased in the greater number
of the industrial concerns at Lege an(
n the surrounding suburbs of Bres
SIOUX. Jupille, and Wandre. OF 3,50t
workmen 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
hoppe, Tilleur, Mentegnee, Flemalle
aaute, Flemalle- Grande and st. Mich
,las stopped work.
# OF the $4,000 coal miners in the Mon
district all quit their work except 2,00C
= Who kept the machinery running. A
'he manufactures also were idle, In
luding the machine shops and potter
es.
The suspension of work at the Goa
nines in the Charleroi district wa
4 omplete the first day, except that sui
cient men remained at their posts I
eep the machinery in good order an
be pumps, working. The metal work
rs only partially quit The total nun
Ter on strike at Charleroi was 59,96
ut of 1886 employees in the variou
FADES.
La Louviere Idle.
Twenty strikers were arrested for IL
rfeFinO with workers