FASCISM OR PRISON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19668, 21 June 1927, Page 9

FASCISM OR PRISON.

CHOICE FOR ITALIANS. ALLEGATIONS OF OUTRAGES. ESCAPED SOCIALIST'S STORY. By Telecrraph—Press Association —C-opyricht. (Received June 20, 7.45 p.m.) A. and N.Z. PARIS. June 20. A prominent Italian anti-Fascist, Signor Labriola, who recently made a dramatic escape from Italy, told an amazing story of • Fascist outrages to an interviewer. Signor Labriola was formerly Minister of Public Works, and was once a colleague of the Prime Minister of Italy, Signor Mussolini, but bo disapproved of recent Fascist developments. In the course of the interview Signor Labriola said that on the day after an alleged attempt upon the lifo of Signor Mussolini at Bologna, the door of bus flat was battered in by Fascists. Signor Labriola and his son, aged 16, were each put in a corner of the room, covered by revolvers and told they would bo shot if tbev moved. The Fascists then smashed the furniture and the china in the flat, said Signor Labriola, ripped the pictures to shreds and tore up the books they found. The Italian said more than 1000 houses were similarly treated. Signor Mussolini refused to let him have a passport, but ho escaped. " A man has only two chances in Italy to day," said Signor Labriola. "He must cither be a Fascist or go to prison." Signor Arturo Labriola, who is a professor, was born in Naples in January, 1874. As an economic expert he made a reputation for himself in Italy, His works include valuable critiques of the economic and social principles of Karl Marx, a " History of Ten Years," and a treatise on political economy. His last book deals with the dictatorship of the bourgeoisie. As a lad Labriola took an interest in politics. He founded an association of young workers and became a Socialist. On April 13, 1890, ho was arrested while ho was preparing for a May Day demonstration. In 1898 he escaped abroad in order to avoid being arrested again, and spent some time in Switzerland and France. Ho then edited the Avanguardia at Milan, but left it for Naples, where he became editor of the Propaganda. At the time of the first split among the Italian Socialists bo was with Enrico Leone, leader of the trades union group. Signor Labriola entered the Chamber of Deputies as a Socialist, but bo went over to the Independents and then to tho Reformists. Finally ho voted for tho war, for though his mother was a German and his father pro-German, Labriola himself was violently He was one of tho delegates who went to Russia during tho Kerensky regime in the vain hope that on the spot they would learn something definite regarding the situation there. Labriola after holding several important municipal posts at Naples was appointed Minister of Public Works by Giolitti and brought in a bill for the control of industry. The advent of Fascism brought Labriola back to Socialism as a member of the Unified group. He was latterly a prominent member of the staff of the Giusticia and did what ho could to combat Fascism.