The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-10
STRIKE TO ENFORCE
MANHOOD SUFFRAGE
PLANNED IN BELGIUM
Children of Nearly 100000
Workers Sent Out of the
COuntry-A Last Des-
perate Measure

Brussels, Belgium, April 9--The first
active move in preparation for a great
general strike to enforce the grant of
manhood suffrage in Belgium was made
today by the sending out Of the country
of many children of the 100000 or 4OO,o 900
workers who Will lay down their tools
on Monday, April IA, at the behest of the
socialist party. 1t is expected that the
train service win cease or be greatly
impeded after Sunday and the wives and
daughters of hundreds of workmen with
the little ones of their own families or
those of neighbors are crossing the from
tiers on every train placing the noncom-
batants as it were in safety in neutral
states.
Offers of provisional homes abroad have
arrived this week at the rate of 1000 daily
and the directing committee OF the strike
has received 11OOO offers thus far, 5000
from France, 1000 from Holland and 1000
from Germany. Trade has increased in
all kinds of preserved foods, beans, rice
and flour, and the sales of Illuminating
oils and candles have tripled.
Last Desperate Measure
The strike has been decided on by the
Belgium socialist party as the last des-
perate measure to make the government
give them system of manhood suffrage
instead of the system of plural voting
now in vogue. It's success or failure will
be of consequence to the world a large.
If it succeeds it will demonstrate the
practicablity of the strike as a political
weapon. Previous attempts at political as
distinguished from economic strikes have
invariably ended in failure, notably in
Spain and France and the opinion has
been generally held that the political
strike is impotent- The Belgian move
ment appeared to have been planned with
extraordinary skill and care. The work
ers are determined and full of faith in
the justice of their cause. The resources
at their disposal are considerable both in
money and kindred aid and they have the
practically though unofficial support of
the liberals nonetheless vigorous from
being indirect. The proprietor of the
liberal newspaper the Petit Bleu, has
promised formally to pay $4,000 per week
into the strike fund as long as the move
ment lasts and the strikers assert that
they can hold out for six weeks.
May Prove Turning Point
Many Be1gians believe that this strike
will prove a turning point in the history
of Belgium, that it will result in political
changes of incaluculable importance and
some predict a revolution In the separa-
ton of the Waloon and Flemish provinces
or dynastic crisis.
The government faced with the serious
problem meaning economic catastrophe
for an Industrial country like Belgium
has occupied itself chiefly in making
arrangements to repress disorder which
these socialists deride they are deter
mined that the strike shall be peaceful
The socialist chiefs. Emile Vandervelde
and Edouard Anseele, affirm that any
violence which may occur will he pro-
voked by the government and not by
them. 1t Is understood that all the gem
darmes are to be called upon as well as
the civil guard and several classes OF
troops mobilized, to guard the railroads
and assure the public services. Large
coal orders have been placed in England
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tCoptinued ON PLge Eighty