The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-10-24
iLLlTeRAcy ONLY RESTRICTION
Total Vote Will BE Increased by
Over Five Millions
EUROPE WILL WAT N RESULTS

Rome, oct 2i.--Italy is on the eve
of a general election, the result of
which will be awaited by all other
European nations with considerable
interest. II means the puttins to the
test of the new election law passed
in parliament at the last session and
greatly extending the right of suffrage.
The new law, under which the par
hamentary election on Sunday will be
held. practically grants universal suf-
fragc. Lnder that law all male citi-
2ens, regardless Of educational or
property qualifications are entitled 20
vote under certain restrictions. These
restrictions apply TO those who are
unable to read or write. While all
male citizens who can read and write
are entitled TO vote If they have
reached the age Of twenty-one, those
who are not able to read and write
are allowed to vote only il they have
served in the army or navy Of Italy
on have reached the age OF thirty.
khhFCn Us FoCtoT'
The granting of suffra .,e TO practi-
cally all classes Of the population, ex-
ceptinS to persons convicted Of crime,
will cause a tremendous increase in
the number of votes. At the last par
liamentary election only 3,2i7,722 per-
sons in Italy were entitled to vote,
while S,oS5,l4S will bc entitled to cast
their vote at the general election on
Sunday next. Ii Is a matter for con-
siderable speculation as TO what cf-
feet tn. great influx OF new and hit
crate voters will have upon the gov
crnmert OF the country. The fran
chisc bill, of which Premier Giolitti
was the father and which lac advocat-
ed with great inslstence was opposed
by many upon the ground that it
would play INTO the hands Of the
church which has a powerful inHu-
ence over the .llltcrate voters.
But all this was undoubtedly fully
realized by Premier Giolitt and the
government which Is 10y no means
pro- o-Clerical and il may be taken that
Giolitti Is too clever and astute
statesman to advocate law If he did
not feel confident that It would in no
way endanger the position of the gov
eminent. Whatever may be the ulti-
mate effect Of the new franchise law,
il is not likely that this big army of
ilitcratcs onfrauchised 10y IL. will use
It's power at the first opportunity to
defeat the government which granted
10 il the power to vote.
Fear Danger from Socialists.
II the granting Of practically univer-
sal suffrage involves any immediate
danger to the government, that danger
Is not SO much from the church as
from the Socialists and other radical
parties. After the fall of the temporal
power Of the Vatican, the pope issued
an order forbidding Catholics through
out Italy 20 participate In political
elections. At the last general election
the present pontiff for the first time
waived the prohibition in certain con-
stitucncies, where Catholic candidates
opposed anti.clerical Socialists. Re-
Gently there was a rumor In circula-
tion that at the coming election the
prohibition would be waived also In
the constituencies of Rome, but the
Vatican organ, the Ossenvatore Ro-
mano, published an emphatic state
ment that the Catholics of Rome would
not go to the polls. No reference was
made to the probable action of Cath
Giles in other parts of Italy