The Washington herald., 1913-05-15

Copyright, 1915. BY A. d. Jscobson.l
Long hair and flowing ties no longer
are the fashion among revolutionar1es.
They are now gentlemen with constitu-
tional habits, who in no wise show ex-
ternaIly the fervor of the Garibaldis and
the Robespierres. Indeed, no man looks
less like tribune" than Vandervelde,
the Belgian, who is leading close to
l. 900 900 of his countrymen in a general
strike. designed to procure the reform of
the electoral laws. Imagine a man or
middle height, very dark, and somewhat
Spanish in cost of countenance. Behind
his spectacles are quiet, rather kindly,
eyes: a beard and the habitual wear of
black clothing invest him with an air OF
moderation. Middle-aged, gentle OF ut
terance, undidactic in his views, Wander
velde would present puzzle to one VINO
sought the origin of the influence he
yields, If that investigator had not seen
him In one of his moments
Early last year, when, fact by fact, he
was driving home the guilt of Belgian
officer in the Congo. as he told the story or
the atrocities, ii was another VanderVelde
who spoke-an impassioned, fierce judge,
who. in his sense of fitness, would gladly
have combined with the functions of
Judge those of executioner. In those
moods he is as brave as he is fearless,
and it is rumored that on this particular
occasion he did not hesitate in the lobby
of the Chamber of Deputies to give a
blow before he gave word to an incrimi-
mated officer who threatened him with
bodily violence. Vandervelde is pre-emi-
nently not afraid Though he would pre-
fer to be moderate, he is compelled by
the abuses which infest his country to
conduct continual campaigns against the
church. because of its obstructionist edu-
70 hour
geoisie because the labor laws Of Bel
gum wink too readily at long hours and
short pay.
This conflict within his personality is
most interesting feature, and 1t is
maintained even in the writings for
which he finds time in the midst of his
strenuous propagan da. The literary out
put of Vandervelde is large. and covers
every topic that interests the workers,
such as Socialism VS.. the State Van-
dervelde is collectivist. sworn enemy
of "gas and water" Socialism,; essays
on TEMPERANCE, religion, and art; lengthy
chronicles of the last days of the old
Congo State; essays on industrial Bel
GUM; on collectivism and industrial evo-
luton; a short history of the last years
Of the late King Leopold's reign. &c. His
is a sharp. piercing style which never
shrinks from fact, and allows him to
say, without ambiguity, anything that
he chooses. Here is an instance
There is an antagonsm, both theo-
retic and practical, between Socialism
and the religion of today, of which
Romanism is the most typical FORM"
Such are the sentiments which Van
dervelde ventures to lay before the most
Catholic people on the Continent of Eu-
rope.
A notable thing in regard to Wander
velde is his popularity among the people
of Brussels: without knowing his ad-
dress one can reach his house by asking
passers-by for directions. He is the
kindly tribune of Brussels. and so well
beloved that no man thinks of resenting
the fact that he is a man of means. liv-
ing in a beautifully appointed house, in
an agreeable part of the town. Both
he and his English wife have become a
byword at Brussels. Even its bourgeois
society, which is not so kind every
where on the Continent. is glad to well
come them in its midst. This may not
surprise an American or Englishman,
who prides himself on the friendship
that may exist between a cabinet min
lister and the leader of the opposition.
but in most European countries it is
more usual for men of varying political
faiths to meet on the dueling ground
than on the golf links.
Vandervelde has won his way to lead
ership by the qualities which endear him
socially. by affabiiity, courtesy, and I'M
equalled honesty. 1t is not every Eu-
ropean Socialist who is above suspicion,
but nothing can be urged against Emile
Vandervelde. and no cry of Bourgeois"
goes up because he has been known to
sit at the BurComaster's table. The
magic of the man is seen best when
he enters his own element, La Maison
du PeupIe." Vandervelde in no sense
is a man of drawing rooms and courts,