ITALIAN POLITICS.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17814, 13 July 1923, Page 9

ITALIAN POLITICS.

| THE LATEST SENSATION. | LEADER OF CATHOLIC PARTY RESIGNS. (BY CABLI—PRESS ASSC ATIOS—COPYRIGHT.) IAXSTSALIAH AXD K.Z. BLE ABSOCIATIOW.) ROME, July 11. J A sensation has been caused by the resignation of Dom Sturzo, leader of the Catholic Popular Party, who was opposed to Mussolini's Electoral Reform Bill. Dom Sturzo, at a meeting of the national council of the party, explained that his being an ecclesiastic had given rise to bitter attacks on the Church, and even against the Holy See. On the other hand Dom Sturzo's political activity has latterly received unmistakable signs of disapproval from the Vatican. This is probably the true reason for his retirement. Dom Sturzo is one of the remarkable figures in present-day Italian politics. Three years ago he was an obscure Professor of Sociology in the Sicilian town of Caltagirone. For twenty years he was Mayor—tho v rarest of things for a priest—of his native town, and for twenty years he held the balance of power in local politics. His emergence to the wider sphere coincided with a new factor in Italian political life. For fifty years, ever sinco the occupation of Rome by tho Italian troops in 1870, a Papal Non Expedit had prohibited good Catholics from taking any part in Italian politics. For the elections of 1919, however, the prohibition was removed. A specifically Catholic Party was formed for the first time, and Dom Sturzo was very soon called from Sicily to become its leader. Only one election has been held since the formation b£ his party, which rallied the peasants to its banner, and the Catholic Party was returned with a strength of more than 100 deputies, ELECTORAL REFORM. SIGNOR MUSSOLINI'S BILL. ROME, July 11. The debate in the Chamber of Deputies on the Electoral Reform Bill has opened, Discussing the "electoral reform" proposals of Signer Mussolini, the Rome correspondent of the "Morning Post," writing on May 22nd, said:— Even before the advent of Signor Mussolini to power all" Italian parties, except the Roman Catholio "Populars, ' and the Socialists, were dissatisfied with the system of scrutin de liste, introduced in 1919, "by which Italy was divided into only fifty-fire gigantio constituencies, instead of the £OB which had existed before the war, and which, under the method of single-member seats, would have been increased to 535 after the annexation of tho new provinces. This new arrangement was very favourable to the only two organised parties, the Roman Catholics and the Socialists, and was, therefore, anathema to the disorganised Liberals, who were heavily hit in Northern Italy. Signor Mussolini's proposal is stated to be the adoption of one single mammoth constituency, which would embra.ee the entire country. The list of candidates which obtained the greatest number of rotes would have 360 seats, the remaining 175, 160, or 100 seats (as the case might be, for the number 6f deputies has not yet been fixed), , would be assigned to the minority lists. The electors, besides the usual rote, would have wine or more preferential Votes : as at kresent. It is difficult to see what.advantages (except that of benefiting certain parties which are well organised) this strange scheme possesses. Its first and most obvious defect—so its critics point out—is to sever all contact between the electors and the elected. In large portions of, Italy, especially in the South, the personal element plays a large part in politics; the elector thinks more of whom than of what he is going to vote for. The "Corriere della Sera" shows that, in practice, a tiny oligarchy would dTaw up the lists of candiates and "make" the elections, which would be a foregone conclusion before a single elector voted. Signor Mussolini would choose the candidates for the majority list, Don Sturzo and other "bosses" those for the minority lists, and the whofe matter could thus be comfortably settled 'between four or five "grand electors" in a committeeroom in Rome. As for the various localities, they would have no voice whatever in the choice of candidates, all of whom would be imposed from the capital. The South, it is pointed out, would have' special cause to complain. That great region, including the two bi s islands, is neither Fascista nor "Popu» lar," nor yet Socialist. All thos_e parties are almost excusively of Northern or Central origin'. Consequently the Si"th would not figure on tho Majority list, composed—at least, for the pre-, sent—of Fascisti, while it would not figure to "any extent on the Minority lists of the Socialists and the Roman Catholics, because over five-sixths of their strength come from the Nortn and Centre and less than one-sixth from the South. Therefore, the South, it is calculated, would lose. 40 or 45 deputies, and at once the old cry of North versus South would be revived, especially as since 1887, when Crispi became Prenvier, the South has produced an unusual number of leading politicians. I>i Rudini Salandra, Orlando, Nitti, San Giuliano, are examples. Now it is a dangerous thing,, especially for a Northern Premier—Signor Mussolini is a Romagnole—to neglect the wishes of the "solid" South, where neither Fascismo nor the "Popular" party (.although Don Sturzo is a Sicilian) nor the Socialists have made headway. It' is urged, too, that no party under this system could make any effective opposition to the Government — and all 'Governments are the better for an efficient, if not factious opposition. Indeed, Signor Mussolini would probablv be the loser bv the introduction of 350 (instead of 28, as at present) Fascisti into the Chamber. For majorities too big are apt to break up into cliques; lieutenants might create "cares," jealousies might arise, and in the end the new Chamber would be worse from his point of new than, the old. ABOLITION OP DEATH DUTIES. MUSSOLINI'S BENEDICTION. ROME, July 11. The Minister of Finance, Signor ~De Stefani, has submitted a proposal to Cabinet for the abolition of death duties on family inheritances, and providing that no duties in future should be paid by husband, wife or parents. Other duties are considerably reduced. The Prime Minister, Signor Mussolini, complimented the Minister and declared that the encouragement of family fortunes was the soundest national jjolisy* ~~