Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-04-28
Unequal Distribution Of the
Ballot Privilege Was the
Cause of the Trouble.

YOT In many years has the Bel
I'm gian government faced such q
u serious situation ~ that created
by the great manhood sui
frage" strike which wns recently de-
clared and which. according to Gun.
servative estimates. called 100000
workmen from their employment 81.
most instantly.
Although the strike had been an
nounced In advance and extensive
preparations had been made to Offset
It's influence. the trouble quickly be-
came more widespread than the OH.
Gals had anticipated and the result In
many districts was 4 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 a. follows by
one familiar with the circumstances:
The strike is protest against the
refusal Of the Belgian government to
introduce the new franchise bill en-
bodyins equal and universal suffrage.
The present Belgian house Of rep
resentatives was elected on the prin.
ciple Of proportionate representation.
That principle, in brief. 10 as fol-
lows: Every male Belgian who is twen-
ry-flve years old who has resided one
year In his commune and who Is not
legally disqualified has one vote.
III be is married or is q widower
with children and pays 81 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
1.-THE Socialists want the entire sys-
TEN 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 tho strike was
Socialist movement The Catholic
workmen. who have organizations OF
their own. did not sanction the strike.
The Socialist leaders announced that
II was to be q ''strike Of folded arms"
and that no violence 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 situation
Of extreme gravity.
The strike began at dawn April IA,
when the night shifts quit the mines
and mills throughout the country, ieav-
ing them empty save for few care
takers told on by the Socialist party
to keep the property from deteriorat-
ing.
At least q quarter Of n million men
laid down their tools. according to re-
ports given ont In representative non.
Socialist quarters. There were numer.
GUS exceptions to the general walkout
in many districts.
The strike was complete in places
such AZ the mining districts. but only
partial In the great seaport of Antwerp.
where the shipping continued loading
and unloading as though nothing had
occurred.
Reports from the provinces told Of
complete or nearly complete stoppage
of work at Liege, Charleroi. Mons. La
I,ouviere aud other smaller cities. At
Mons alone IL 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.
Raoui Warocque, deputy and mine