The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-05-20
SOCIALISTS
N TURMOIL
Attempts at General Roman
Strike Ends Thus
TWO SIDES DISCUSSED
Printers in Italy Have Fair
Organization
TWO SIDES DISCUSSED

E1Orence, ltdIy, May G.-lne late at
tempt at a general strike in Rome ha.
set the two sections of the Italian Social
ist-at loggerheads, and the curious phase
of the battle is that the Avanti, the gen
eral daily organ of the entire party, take:
the side OF Turati, the leader of III,
Refcrmists against the leader of tbs
Revoluuonist Enrico Ferri. who has bu
now been chosen as the new director Of
the paper since the resignation Of Bisso
lati.
The question at issue is this: At the
great congress of Imola, Pietro Chiesa
and Gino Murialdi. IN their diIigent and
exhaustive reports on the economic or
ganization of the Industrial proletariat
while admitting the utility Of a general
strike as "a protest against violent or re-
dictionary political measues, demonstrated
Its inezpediency as an economic weapon
Moreover they deprecated the system OF
unorganized, sudden. unjustifed strikes
IN the several trades, and their conclu-
sions were indorsed by about three-quar-
tiers Of the congress. Two hundred and
eighty. under the leadership OF Ferri
while agreeing as 10 the inOpportuneness
Of a general strike as an economic wea-
pom, maintained that strikes IN the separ-
ate trades were the only measures cal
culsted 70 ameliorate the condition OF the
Industrial working classes and We're
moreover. educational methods Of organ
tzation and preparation. They maintained
that the ''revolutionist leaders" in all
cases of a strike, meditated or proposed.
ought to mix with the strikers. raOdesat-
ing Of stimulating the movement as
might appear expedient. But during the
late strike of the Roman printers. Ferri
and his colleagues either remained neu-
trail or leaned, now to this. now TO that
eide of the combatants, and it is for this
that Turati is calling them TO account in
very stringent fashion. He it was, who
gave such powerful cooperation 10 the
Peremier for the time Minister of Public
Works, during the Threatened general
strike of the railroad men last year.
Through his activity and influence the
public catastrophe was averted; and while
the Prime Minister, Zanardelli. carried
his point and the railway employees were
placed under military discipline very
substantial benefits were obtained for
them, which will be added to when the
term of the convention expires. and the
men. thoroughly organized. are able to
make their own terms with the future
managers Of the railways, whether gov
ernmental or private companies.
The printers in Italy are fairly organ
tied in the great cities and associated in
the Federazione del Libro. Some five
weeks. sine IN Roman printers working
for certain firms demanded an eight in
stead Of a ten-hour day, and sundry other
concessions. Their employers refused to
pay the same wages for eight as for ten
hours. offering a nine-hOurs day at nine
hours wage. Upon this about 1000 print
ers went on strike without consulting the
heads of the federation. and without. it
appears any reserve fund on which TO
subsist during their struggle. Their COM
rades. however in other cities came out
with generous support, but the masters
took on other workingmen, and this intro
duction Of ''blackegs' CSrumiri, so called
after the African tribe which gave France
q pretext for the invasion and occupa-
ton OF Tunis) exasperated the men to
such a point that, disorders being feared.
the government, while maintaining strict
neutrality between the contending parties,
called into Rome sufficient forces to over
awe any revolutionary agitators, to guard
the printing establishments and protect
the rights OF labor in the persons Of the
'sblacklegs' During these weeks, the
Revolutionary Socialists" kept aloof,
neither melting nor moderating the strik-
ers They made, il is true. some attempts
to arrange terms with the masters. but,
failing. took no further part in the pro-
ceedings. eManwhile. the masters with
drew the OFFER of nine-hours day. refus-
ed to dismiss the men summoned 10 re-
place those on strike, and refused 10
treat with the Federation of the Book
declining all the proposals made by the
Deputies Luzzatti and RouX Chead Of the
great publishing house in Turin and now
editor of the Tribunal. Thereupon the
government. after holding q full cabinet
council. sent their ultimstum TO the heads
Of the firms that have contracts with
the state Seeing that for an entire month
the official publications entrusted 10 these
firms had been. owing to the strike. sus-
pended. 10 the great detriment OF the pub
lie administration. an official warning was
sent to the head Of each firm. notifying
them that If within a week they had not
placed themselves in 4 position 10 fulfill
their contracts, they would not only ba
summoned to pay the legal forfeit FOR
past failure. but would be excluded from
future bidding for government contracts.
The defaulting firms protested against
theis measure. accusing the government
OF partiality for the men on strike; more
over they avowed their intention Of APP
pealing 10 the courts. confident OF r YER
dict OF mot guilty On the score Of cocr-
Give. All the commercial and industrial
firms in Rome. unitel in their societies
and associations, co1voked an extraor-
dinary meeting and proclaimed solidarity
with the heads Of the printing establish
ments-with admiration OF the energy and
nrmneSs manifested for five and thirty
days in resisting the unjust demands OF
the wcrkmen-condemning the partisan
action Of the government. prophesying 4
complete victory. and solemnly Affirming
that all the Industrial and commercial
Arms were and would remain their stanch
allies; that all were ready 70 share thu
responsibility which the government cast
on their shoulders for the non-ful6Umen;
OF their contracts. placing at the service
OF the printing arms all the moral and
material means they possessed in order "a
secure the entire and indisp-table triumph
of their common cause. This challenge 70
the men on strike when the contest was
81 its height. was the signal for action
on Tire part OF the other working classes