The Washington herald., 1911-05-01
THE CAMORRA.


criminal organizations Of Italian origin
to-day are the Mafia. the Camorra, and
the Black Hand. The first operates ex-
clusively In Sicily. the second in Naples
and Southern Italy. while the Black Hand
has established itself in America Each
has its distinct sphere Of influence. While
distinct entities and possessing no formal
defensive or offensive alliances, these
brethren of the dagger" are united by
the ties of sentiment which arise from
the pursuit Of the common criminal aim
The Camorra yields allegiance to no
political party; It exploits all in turn.
For years after United Italy was born
1t had scarcely enough vitality left to
keep II alive. But its renaissance came
In 1880. 1t was then reorganized. 1t OBJ
tained hold upon the people which 1t
has never lost, and its power for evil
doing became intensified. Very soon 1t
acquired tremendous power in Southern
Italy. 1t even spread to Lombardy,
establishing itself at Milan But II is in
the south that 1t has taken deepest root
Under the Incompatible sky of Naples
II thrives as no other association of as
sassins has thriven before 1t sees all.
hears all. rules all. from the street
hawker to the mayor. Individual Camor-
rists may be arrested. loaded with chains
and hung into prisons; but the Camor-
ra Itself appears to be indestructible. II
cannot be arrested and no law ever
framed mas succeeded in suppressing it.
since lts renaissance thirty years ago,
the Camorra has flourished without check
II Is paying business concern, organized
on up-to-date lines. There is no branch
OF iaWlessness. from theft to assassina-
ton. upon which 1t does not embark
Ihere are those who attribute its growth
ana power to the long years Of misgov-
erhment under the Bourbons Others see
It's raison d'etre in the peculiar climatic
soitness and warm sunshine of Naples,
"hich by its great natural advantages,
mas attracted more of the idle. indolent
class than any other city of Italy
The ease with which certain Of the nee
essarles of life can be procured reduces
10 minimum the amount of energy
which Neapolitan is called upon to ex-
pend In the earning of his daily bread
The people themselves can exist on very
little Eight or ten soldi a day. equal to
eight or ten cents. is ample for their
needs. For two cents they can buy
enough macaroni to suffice for a meal
Ihere are thousands of homeless people
In Naples, some Of whom have not lived
under the shelter of a roof for years
In the day they bask in the sunshine
stretched at full length, a striking exem-
plincation OF the dolce far niente mode
OF existence At other times. on the ar
rival of ocean steamers. for instance,
they are to be found at the landing-stage
at 1mnacolatella Nuova, near the cathe-
drai. or the museum, or at some other
Of the points where tourists do mostly
IN ha0
1t is from the younger Of these street
Arabs that is drawn the material which
furnishes the Camorra with its most
promising recruits. These ragamuffins
have an intelligence developed beyond
their years by daily contact with misery.
and possess an extraordinary degree of
shrewdness. They are the eyes and ears
OF the Camorra-its intelligence depart
ment. Their reward for a service rem
dered 20 the society is generally nothing
more than a few soldi. or a couple of
handfuls OF macaroni. They live in a
vicious atmosphere, face to face with
degeneracy in its every form. Fully
s. per cent are illiterates. This is rather
the fault of the government than Of the
church. For a long period Italy has had
compulsory education law. But in
Naples, at all events, and in the prov
ince OF which II forms a part no at
tempt is made to enforce it Government
inspectors and primary schools are lack
ing, and the youth of Naples. Of Tore
del Greco. Castellamare. Sorrento, Resina,
Tore Annunziata, and the other towns
Of the lttoral spend their lives out Of
doors. grow up in semi-idleress, and as
natural consequence adopt a criminal
career with enthusiasm. Invariably they
pass into the ranks Of the Camorra,
where some of them display Z positive
genius for the organizing of crime on a
scientific basis. Cut of its supply Of
recruits, and the Camorra in course Of
time must disappear. II the govern
ment would but apply to the Camorra
the law II applies to religious associa-
tions. prohibiting the enrolling and train
ing Of novices, this dreaded organiza-
ton would die of inanition in a few
years. II the Camorra Is ever to be
conquered 1t will be by the schoolmaster
and not by the policeman.
In seeking to gauge correctly the rea-
sons which have led to the Camorra' s
usurping so successfully certain of the
prerogatives of the governing power. 1t
should be noted that the psychological
element, too, counts for something.
Philosophers who have studied the ques-
ton agree that the Neapolitan by nature
is vain; he Is a confirmed egotist and a
thorough believer in the doctrine Of In
divioual vengeance He has never quite
grasped the meaning of constitutional
government. In fact, he is suspicious OF
all constituted authority. He looks upon
every one wearing a uniform as his
enemy and treats him accordingly. Like
the Sicilian, the Neapolitan detests ap-
pealing to the law courts for the settle
ment Of a quarrel or a dispute. He re-
CARDS such a procedure as undignified
and unmanly. The time has been when
he was wont to settle little differences
himself with a dagger thrust.
Now the Camorra will do all this for
him. 1t will intervene in his disputes
and act as his representative, settling
them much more cheaply, much more
expeditiously, than will the machinery OF
the law. And IL there is any blood-letting
to be done, to. satisfy private vengeance.
the Camorra, with it's trained bands OF
stiletto experts, is the body par ex-
ceIlence to carry out such a mission. The
employer of labor too often appreciates
its aid, for when other means fail, It
has a pretty way of bringing to their
senses recalcitrant workmen who threat
ell to go on strike.
In Naples the Camorra Is regarded with
superstitious awe; its unseen hand will
strike, II need be, in the palace Of a SOW
ercien. Its power is increased by the
yeneration which secret societies invari-
ably inspire among primitive people. II
has thrust It's roots into the social strata