The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-04-15

GOVERNMENT
The Size of the Belgium
Strike for Manhood
Suffrage
ALTHOUGH 100000 LESS
THAN THREATENED
Premier Admits the Move
ment May Prove
Compelling

Brussels, Belgium, April l5.-Oger one
third of the workmen in Belgium have
| struck and joined the Socialists, as Il
protest against the system of plural yot-
ing, which etfectually prevents them
from obtaining majority at the polls
and which has permitted the clerical
party to remain in power for the past
twenty years.
Virtually complete figures gathered
from all the provinces except Antwerp
and West Flanders showed total OF
256,000 strikers out this morning, and
estimates from Antwerp and West Flan-
ders, where the Socialists are weakest,
indicate another $4,000 there. The So
.cialists, however, assert the total reaches
350000. and the clericals and govern.
ment place the figure at only 10000.
Despite the fact that so many of the
laboring class are idle, there has been a
notable lack of violence. The strikers
are evidently determined to respect the
call of their leaders that the strike be
one of folded arms and not of raised
fists.
Brussels, April l5 Although the mum
Der OF men who quit work yesterday |
to force the government to grant them |
suffrage is 100000 short OF the Socialist |
prediction and although the clericaist
press is beginning to call the movement
"a ptiable fasco" the strike has shown
greater strength than was expected by
imperial observers.
The strike thus far has been marked I
by neither disturbance nor any especial
to the general public, The
yas water, electric and street cleaning 4
services and the street cars and railroads
ire in operation as usual, but the city
s full of children of the provincial strik.
ars who are being cared for by the
antilles of. the liberals.
The only act Of Sabotage occurred
n the suburb where three big machines
n a leather factory were damaged.
Brussels is not an industrial cente-.
There are about 10000 workmen here
II whom less than 10000 are out !,
Admits Strike May Be Dangerous II
The premier, M. De Broqueville. in an
interview last night, admitted that If
he strike dragged on it might prove I
dangerous by leading to disorders, but i
e said that at the present time there c
vas no reason to fear disturbances. I
The premier added that while the elec- a
oral laws were not such that they \
ouh not be changed for the better. the 3
overnment could not allow itself to be
oerced and must stand firm in the face o
menaees. To agree to the socialists t
emands would be to place an eternal :
,eapon in the hands of the Sociali7t Il
arty which they would brandish at the c,
ea,ls of all future governments.
He pointed out that to delegate 4
to consider a change in the
ectoral system would practically IN
Dive revision of the constitution, which
oud open up great difficulties. In CON
usion. he denied all rumors Of cabinet
ascension on this question and declared l
Il the strike is evolutionary We will i
lppress the riots; if calm, it viii not b
ld cannot have any practical result al
NJ. De Broqueville further intmatel ei
at il the 1914 elections gave his party a
eedom in this matter he would be "
ady to consider change in the elec- al
raj system. ce
La Louyiere, Belgium, April l5.--Tbc u
iners' strike here was general yesterday, 10
It man beyond those necessary to TO
ep the machinery in order having gone
to the mines. All the factories closed liz
cir doors except pottery which was to
nning at full force. The street cars III
IRE operating as usual during the fore la
on as the strike of the motormen and OF
was timed to begin at sesen sI
lock last evening. Some attempts IN
We been made to cut telegraph wires 50
the vicinity fr'
ChArleroi, Belgium. April l5.-The sns- ica
nsion of work at the coal mines in this
,trict was complete except that sulii- trJ
mt men remained at their posts to bo
ep the machinery in good order anil sic
: pumps working The metal work k,ss th'
the vicinity have only partially quit a
sir employment but il is understood me
It the remainder of the men in this col
inch will lay dowr their tools. in
Antwerp. April l5.-The strike has not mt
scted this port in any way. Work on
!, docks and everywhere else in TIE Del