RULER OF ITALY

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12095, 24 March 1925, Page 5

RULER OF ITALY

MUSSILINI ACCLAIMED NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION ON ANNIVERSARY OF FASCISMO. electrifying words. By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright. Reuter's Telesrram. (Received March 23, 7.10 p.m.) ROME, March 22. The sixth anniversary of the foundation of Fascisrao was celebrated with enthusiasm throughout the country. Mass meetings of the most orderly character were held everywhere. Six thousand “black-shirts” assembled in the Augusteum Auditorium at Rome, and marched with banners and bands through the beflofigea streets to the Foreign Ministry, where Signor Mussolini made his first appearance since his illness. Signor Mussolini addressed a few electrifying words to the crowd. In a thunderous voice he asked' if he could rely on his hearers, and 150,000 throats roared, “Viva, Mussolini 1” THE WORK OF FASCISMO A SYMPATHISER’S VIEW. There is a great deal of talking about Fascismo (pronounced “Fashismo”), but only a fetv people know exactly what it really is. The general opinion is that Fascismo is nothing but a counter-movement, using more or less plausible means, against the menace of Bolshevism in Italy. This opinion, though fairly correct, was said by an Italian recently in Australia to cover only a very small portion of the Fascisti programme. He gave an outline of the origin and objects of the Fascisti. Fascismo (he said) means unity of efforts, and its symbol is represented by a bundle (faecio) of rods, firmly tied together and holding in their midst a Roman axe, symbol of action. COMMUNIST MADNESS. When the Armistice was signed, and the first wave of unemployment and financial distress swept over Europe, the Social-Communists got again the upper hand in Italy, because they used the evidently poor material results of the war as an easy platform for that famous electoral campaign that sent 150 Social-Communists to the Italian Parliament. This sudden rise to power was the beginning of a general madness. Strikes were being ordered by hundreds, and for no reason; wages were sensaationally rising to absurdity; the red flag was hoisted everywhere; and the Red Flag March was the official anthem on Sundays in very many towns where Socialists or Communists were in power, including Milan, Turin, Genoa, Bologna, and other important centres. Road-sweepers in Milan were paid much better than university prolessors, and ultimately all the important factories of Northern Italy (Fiat, Bianchi, Marelli, Ansaldo, etc.) were seized by the workers. And the Government?, Many say the (Government did not know what to do, being too weak to oppose resistance; others say it was very wise not to. TRe*truth is contained in both statements. AND MUSSOLINI? Mussolini', who knew his people, having lived 18 years among Socialists, saw' that his moment had come. Supported by the industrial elements, he gathered around himself his most faithful followers, not more than a i few hundred enthusiasts in every principal town r . and launched hie terrible campaign of street fighting, which first disoriented, and then, having gained in strength, and audacity, scattered to pieces the demagogy of the SocialCommunists. At this stage, Fascismo, having gathered to a tremendous momentum, went, for a moment, too far, and Italy was haying, for msiny sad weeks, white terror instead of red. But the pendulum that for a moment swung too far slowed down again very soon, and today the sun of Italy shines over 500,000 Fascisti who were, two years ago, Socialists, Republicans, Communists, Syndicalists, Churchiste, and what else not. Why? Because Mussolini is not a dreamer, and what he writes and says to the workers is so plain, so simple, so natural and true, that every child feels it is right. ‘ HIS MESSAGE. This Socialist of the future (because Mussolini is still a Socialist if Socialism means to uplift the lower classes and harmonise them with the higher for the welfare of all) says to the worker: "You do your work as well as you can; be honest and do not rob your employer of tlio time he is paying you for, and if you think he-, does not pay you _ enough to decently support your family and to permit you to enjoy those natural pleasures of life necessary to refresh your soul without intoxicating it, well, put your case before your organisation, and be quite sure that your employer, who is thoroughly informed about you, and, if you give good work, needs you just as much rs you need him, will provide for your satisfaction. “Of course, there are in this world rich men and women who never manage anything, and draw thousands of lira from the bank and do nothing. But why should you worry about them? They are only a very small minority, and their money, divided among the world population, would 1 vanish into nothing. Besides, they all do something if they do not want their idleness to lead them into vice and ruin, and it is quite positive that they are just as necessary as you are. Consider that without them we would never have enjoyed the sight of wonderful masterpieces in architecture, painting, sculpture, etc., and thousands of artists would never have had the chance of developing their inborn faculties without the money that only rich people can pay. “But the road to wealth is always open to everybody who can master his passions and desires, and, like the other games of life, the get-wealthy game has got its rules on training, in which patience, hard work, economy, and sacrifice are the most important.” “PURIFIED UNIONISM.” Mussolini said to the rich landowners in Italy that, if they wanted to keep their properties they had to wake up and put them in proper efficiency. A new scheme of partnership on the side of the “contadini,” or land labourer, is now being studied by the Fascist Government. Fascismo is to-dav the stronghold of n purified trade unionism, under which neither demagogy nor the sweating system is possible. The famous ‘‘eight hours” are nmv law in Italy, but it is optional to the workers to work more if they want, and. strange to say. they all work more. Fascismo is co-oper-

ation, and, if it fails to he co-opera-tion is no longer Fascismo. EXAMPLE OF SELF-DENIAL. They have accused Mussolini ‘ of being a despot and an ambitious tyrant. looking only for power and predominance. It is not true. Mussolini could have been president of the Italian Republic if only he wanted. The truth is just the reverse. This man, who has known the hardships of poverty, and carried home once oil his shoulders the cradle for his first-born, because he could not afford to pay for having it sent, knows what to be poor means, and knows also that co-operation, hard work, and sacrifice are the ouly things that will make the restoration of the world possible. He is himself a living example of self-denial and activity, sinoe he works twelve and fourteen hours per day, taking little rest, listening to every request, no matter the source, and giving encouragement and advice to all that need them. Mussolini has made Fascismo a spiritual movement, and if you want an English word for it, coll it co-operation. Musolsini is teaching Italy and the world a great lesson of sacrifice, cooperation, and hard work. In a few months of Government he has grentlv reduced unemployment, saved the Budget hundreds of millions lira, cut down mercilessly all unnecessary expenses, built mercantile steamers, sent nway with capitalised salaries an enormous legion of wasters, idlers, and loafers, who were rattening in our Ministries ; and now the life-blood of the nation is flowing freely and joyfully along the nrteries of a renovating Italy.