The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1894-05-19
SlCILY'S PEASANTRv.
a People Demoraiixed by Brigandage and
Grimes of All Kinda.

n People Demorniized by Brignndage and
Grimes of All Kinds.
Sig. Tazio has written for the Lega.
del Bene an article on Sicilian labor
unions. He ascribes the deplorable
state of affairs on the islands to two
causes-the unions, or fasci del lavora-
tori, and brigandage. The latter. he
says, is greatly fostered by the fact
that there are large districts without
roads. The laborers are uncducated
and live like beasts, ignorant of their
social duties and of the law. The
riches of the island are absorbed by
the large proprietors and bankers.
The signors live in Palermo and let.
their lands to the gabellotti. who sub
let them to sub-gabellotti, who re,et
them to peasants, the contract system.
enabling them to oppress the latter.
The peasant tills the land entirely at
of the produce and surrcnders
the remainder to the landlord.
The laborers' wages average five CEN
times an hour, and are almost always
paid in inferior bread and wine. When
they are ont of work they borrow corn
of the landlord, who charges twenty
six per cent. for six months Crime of
all sorts results
The penal statistics Of Sicily are the
worst in Italy. The extreme verge Of
labor tyranny has been reached In the
case of the carusi, or mine boys, under
twelve years OF age. who carry sulphur
out of the pit, climbing steep, narrow
gangwnys more than three hundred
feet high. The pieconieri, who extract
the sulphur, engage the boys by adj
vancing TO their parents -four or corn
worth fifty francs. So long as the par
ents are in debt the boys remain slaves,
their masters being able even to kill
! them without risk. Recently one boy
,, was killed by eight strokes of pick
and another by kick in the stomach.
The officials gave their deaths as
due to natural causes. The boys arc
pale, sickly. STOPPING and ricketty. and
they suffer continually from fatigue.
Their backs are scored with old
wounds. They work twelve hours a
day, sleep in the mines, and feed on
bread and onions. They can obtain
: water only by a long walk. Military
statistics prove that conscripts who
have been carusi are incapable of
service, owing to sickness and defects
in physique.
! Brigandage is the direct result of all
this, the people having reached the
limit of endurance. Those most hon.
estly inclined have taken refuge in the
fasci. Women have become the soul Of
the movement One hundred and thirty
| unions exist in Sicily, with total
membership of three hundred thou
sand. The unions arc strongest in
Palermo. The character of the unions
has changed since they were founded.
Now all the members are disciples
OF Marx. The most ignorant, perhaps,
never heard OF Marx. but they aim Mt
an equal distribution of houses and
land. Each union possesses a pass
word and method of communication,
enabling It to distribute messages
swiftly. Each has it's own police, who
inform the members of all the doings
of the government police. A systeu
of mutual insurance and sick relief
lists. The fasci have established sch
for children and adults, whercin
value of money, the duties and riRho(
of workmen, and the theories of social.
ism and collectivism are taught.
Many members have abandoned
church going, hating the priests as
tyrants. This movement SO far is non
political, aiming only to secure dccen,
means of livelihood and freedom from
tyranny.-N. Y. Sun.