The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1911-09-07
In the course Of time these field

clan or guild. In these guilds tn
most enterprising of the guards even
tually became the leaders, and rule,
those under them like tribal chiefs.
! Once established, these bands seol
dominated the situation. No propert,
owner dared install guard withou
| the consent of the chief. If he did
he was likely to have his trees DIES
! troyed or his whole crop stolen. A
guard who was not member of tn,
band was likely to be brought down
some night with shot from wal
or hedge. On the other hand, the
mere knowledge that a certain plan.
the Malta was in itself almost suffi-
cient to insure it from attack and
this, because the Malta. through all
its devious connections with the lower
and criminal classes, was much better
able to ferret out and punish the
criminals than the police.
By making himself at the same time
useful and feared in the community
the chief of the Malta soon began to
get his hand in almost everything
that was going on.
He found himself called on to set
tie disputes. He mixed in politics
and was secretly in the employ of
rich and powerful men. In this way
the Malta, which was at the bottom
largely criminal organization, gain
ed in time standing recognition in
the community in some respects, not
unlike. | imagine, that of Tammany
Hall in New York. When the Malta,
under the name Of the Black Hand,
reached New York, however, it seems
to have become a criminal erganiza-
ton, pure and simple.
Those who have studied the history
Of this peculiar organization much
farther than I have been able to do,
say that in their opinion the Malta or
Black Hand will not long survive in
America because there is in this coun-
try no such oppression of the poor by
the rich and no such hatred and sus-
picion of the high by the low, as is
the case in Sicily, to give it general
support. In other words the Malta, is
dependent on class hatred and class
oppression for its existence.
Perhaps l can give some idea of
what it is that embitters the poor man
in Sicily, who is without property,
education or opportunity, against the
large property owners, the rich edu-
Gated and ruling class.
1t is estimated by the Socialists that
in Italy the laboring men pay 81 per
cent Of the taxes; business men and
the professional classes pay "a per
cent while the class which lives upon
rents and the income from invest
ments Of various kinds furnishes but
- per cent Of the revenues Of the
State.
Italy has, 1 think. every kind and
method Of taxation which has ever
been invented. There is an income
per cent, though small incomes of
less than one hundred donars a year
are exempt. The tax on landed prop
erty amounts to 80, 40 or even so per
cent of the income. In addition to
these there is the lottery, the State
mCnOpolies, the stamp tax and dog
tax. Finally the municipal taxes on
all kinds of feed stuffs which are
brought into the town. This tax abb
serbs from 20 to 80 per cent of the
laboring mans income.
All these taxes, direct and indirect,
are so arranged that the heaviest
burden falls upon that portion Of the
community which is least able to bear
it. For example, salt is a govern
ment monopoly in Italy and in 1901
the people of Italy paid $4,000 Off
salt which cost the government $1,000
to manufacture. The Italian govern
mcnt ships salt to America for the
use Of the Gloucester fishermen for
fifty cents barrel, Of 28O lbs, or five
and three-ffths pounds for a cent
This same salt costs the Italian, be-
cause Of the monopoly Of the govern
ment, four cents pound. That is
America. In order to protect this
monopoly the government even CO.'S
SO far as to station guards along the
whole sea coast to prevent DeO?,c
from stealing sea water in buckle IS
% Ollain salt.
Fortunately the State monopoly Of
salt does not extend to Sicily, but
tho principle Of taxing the people ac
COZ ding to their ability to pay, l. the
| same there as elsewhere in Italy. rs
all illustration of the unfair way in
whi"h the taxes are levied in some
| parts CT the country it is Sd that
| the donkey Of the poor farmer is com.
PEELED TO pay q tax. while the saddle
| horse OF the rich landlord goes free.
| In comparison with this, the Negro
! in the South hardly knOWs what taxes