The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-10-24
rs THE IRON
MAN OF ITALY
Premier oioIittl At sevsnty-Two Years
Of Age Has just Turned His
Shrswdsst Trick.
[By Henry Wood, Rome Correspond
ent OF the United Press

[By Henry Wood, Rome Correspond
ent Of the United Press.1
ROME, Oct. 24.--At seventy-two
years Of age, nearly twice tnat al
which DR.. ossler would have shelved
him In one OF Italy's numerous an.
tiquity museums, Premier Giolitti has
just turned the shrewdest trick OF his
long political career. 'I'he Iron Man
of Italy" is the title by which Giolitti
is known at home, albeit he il known
by It rather fondly. The history OF his
three terms as prime minister has ever
been the history OF q dictatorship
King, parliament and cabinet have
alike been his servants, and whenever
reference has been made to the gov
eminent" 1t has always been tacitly
understood that this was merely the
synonym for "Giolitti."
And yet, Giolitti has ever made his
dictatorship acceptable. He has al
ways demonstrated himself equal to
any crisis that has arisen and this has
been sufficient to establish him with
the Italian nation at large. Admitted.
ly, they say. it 10 great convenience
when some menace threatens the ma.
ton not to have to worry about 1t. II
is much easier merely to say ooh, Clio
litti will find a way" And now it de
velops that Giolitti il just as resource
full In finding way to save himself as
he IS finding way to save the nation.
For months past his ministry has I'D.
mittedly been In peril. Just at the
moment however, when his downfall
seemed inevitable, momentary
change OF his lifelong policy saved
him. For brief moment he relaxed
his iron hand, he gave his opponents
all the rope they wanted, and with It
as he unquestionably had foreseen
they would do. they successfully hang.
ed themselves.
Since the close Of the war last year
between Italy and Turkey more or less
opposition has developed to Giolittfs
conduct OF the colony-grabbing enter
prise. There was heavy loss OF life
and heavy expenditures OF money. This
discomfort the socialists were quick to
turn to their advantage as they alone
opposed the war. The yalligned with
themselves dissatisfied elements Of al
the other political parties and began al
once campaign for the overthrow OF
Giolitti's ministry at the next election.
Success seemed practically certain
With the strong organization which
the socialists have ever had in Italy
with the discomfort following the war
there was added one more element in
their favor that seemed to make the
moment the psychological one in the
history of italian socialism. At the
coming election 100000 new voters
nearly all coming from the working
classes which are more amenable to
the doctrines OF socialism, were to
vote for the first time.
It was this combination Of circum
stances that to the Italian public at
/ large made the downfall OF Qiolitti
seem inevitable. The public, however,
! had not remembered the prime min.
lister himself In August, strike
was begun by the metal workers at
Milan, and urged on by the socialist
leaders. From metal workers strike
1t spread rapidly to city-wide strike
with all industry paralyzed, with the
streets barricaded, and with the
/ troops patroling every inch Of the city
Then, as a final proof OF their pow,