THE BELGIAN STRIKE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1730, 22 April 1913, Page 5

THE BELGIAN STRIKE.

SPREADING TO PUBLIC SERVICES,

WAGES LOSS—£IOO,OOO DAILY.

By Telegraph—Frees Association-Copyright ' (Rcc. April 22, 0.25 a.m.) Brussels, April 20. A long, impressively silent procession of strikers paraded the streets. It is estimated that tho loss in wages' totals-£IOO,OIIO daily. There havo been isolated. instances of intimidation of, and assaults on, nonstrikers. .... .

The workers in the public, services, including the electric power station, havo notified tliat they "will etriko on Tuesday. Should they 'do so tho Government intends to utilisp tho military searchlights to illuminate' tho principal streets;

CAUSES OF THE-TROUBLE.

Two causes seem to havo operated- in bringing, about a gewral, strike in Belgium. Tho workers object to the suffrage system, and also protest against. tht ■ additional military vote, which was carried in February. When tho. proposal, to introduce a system of universal suffrage, on a basis asked .for by tho workers, was rejected oil February !>, tho Socialist leader (Mr.. Van der Velde) intimated that the Socialists would order u general strike. . "" In Belgium the principlo of manhood suffrage, with compulsory , voting, prevails, tempered by tho plural vote and proportional representation of minorities, based upon, a somewhat intricate system. Air citizens over 25, who have lived at least a year in tho same commune, have a vote. An additional vote ia accorded them-if tlieyi.ara:—(l) Either 35 years of age, married with legitimate offspring, a u(l pay a tax of at least 5 francs to the State; or (2). aro ,25 years-old, and own immovable property to the value .of . at least 2000 francs,, or. havo a corresponding income from such property, or tor two years liape received at least 100 francs a 1 year from Belgian funds. Two additional votes are given to citizens of 25 years of age who possess a diploma of higher education, or ha,vo filled a public or prir rate position, implying the possession, of such education. No citizen can have more than, three votes. From this , electorate both Houses of tho Legislature are chosen, save for those senators who are elected indirectly.

Before 1893 there were practically only two political partks--tho Clerics, or Catholics, and tlio Anti-Catholics, or Lib; orals. Gradually, however, ■ after the amendment of the constitution ,in .1893, a strong and. well-organised party of Socialists sprang up. Tho Clerical party has been predominant in tho Chamber, sinco 1881, but its strength has diminished. Of lata years it has been divided by a breach between tho Old Right and tho Young Right, and in 1911 a union of the Liberals and Socialists against tho Clerical education policy "resulted in the downfall of M., Schollaert's Cabinet. ' The result of tho electiohs of' 1912 was, however, favourable to. the Clerical party. Beforo the dissolution, tho Chamber, which then consistediof 16G members, contained 8G Clericals, '(U Liberals, 35 Socialists, and 1 Christian Demoorat. '■ Tho new Chamber, 'consisting of 186 members, contained 102 Clericals, 45 Liberals, 3S Socialists, and 2 Christian Democrats. ,