New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-01
New Premier, Long De-
nounced as Pacihst, Be-
comes Leading Spirit
Scored by Socialists
Teuton Attack Brings All Pc.
litical Parties Into
Harmony
By Isaac Don Levine

The appointment OF Signor Nittorlo
Orlando to the Italian Premiership
would have been unthinkable two
weeks ago Shortly before the Tcuton
armies had smashed the Italian front
Signor Orlando, then Minister of the
Interior, was bitterly attacked by the
Italian Nationalists and annexationists
as a pacist and almost traitor. He
was denounced as a colleague Of Gio-
litti, the man who had exerted every
means and influence to keep Italy from
declaring war against the Central Pow
ers.
A veritable storm ragged about Or
lando in the Italian press in the last
month or two. As Minister of the In
terror in the Boselli Cabinet he was
held responsible for the spread Of the
revolutionary movement in Italy. This
movement had assumed quite alarming
proportions. The "neutralist" Social
lists did not conceal their aim to bring
about immediate peace by cooperating
with the Russian radicals. These So
cialists plotted rebellion, practised
sabotage and sought TO confuse the
government by word and action.
Cry of Socialists
UNLESS you go out into the public
squares" read a recent proclamation
of the Neutralists to the Italian pro-
letariat, land shout in loud voice
that you want peace. millions of other
workmen will have to perish for the
success OF the ideals of their masters,
/. e.. for the greatness Of dishonora-
Bile and disgraceful capitalism.
"Do you want to continue to shed
your blood and that Of your fellow
men for a cause which is not yours.
or do you prefer to initiate the great
and convincing example Of the Rus
sian workmen?
I'm our opinion, the times of simple
defence are gone. We must prepare
with resolution, so that we shall not
be taken unaware and unprepared."
This appeal was followed by the
now famous circular of Signor Laz-
zari, general secretary OF the Socialist
party, in which he urged the Socialist
municipal officials throughout the
country to strike on a certain date.
Some trouble followed in several Sec
lions of Italy. Minister Orlando de-
c!ared martial law in the turbulent To-
oalities, but went no further. He
failed to prosecute the open anti-war
agitators.
1t was then that he became the OBJ
jet of severe attacks from all direc
tions. The Rome "Tribuna," the or
gan of the patriotic elements in the
nation, in a recent editorial, typical
of the section of the press it repre-
sents, said:
Calls Ministry Failure
"The Orlando ministry has failed.
The only thing that can be done now
is to replace it by more efficient
ministry. By failing TO arrest those
guilty of sabotage and the anti-war
plotters Orlando has created an at
mosphere favorable for conspiracies
and plots. Therefore, he must
be eliminated
Such was the attitude of the bour-
geoise toward the new Italian Pre-
mier three weeks ago. The Italian
proetariat is divided into two sections,
one backing the "interventionist" So
clalists and the other the neutral
lists" The former are ardent sup
porters of the Allies. They hate their
pacifst comrades of the "neutralist"
party most cordially. They are natu-
rally opposed to sabotage.
Toward the end OF September these
patriotic Socialists held a convention.
The chairman, upon opening il, de-
plored the internal situation and criti-
cised the Cabinet and especially the
Minister Of the Interior. Orlando, for
failure 70 deal with the sabotage of
the neutralists. He attacked Orlando
severely, demanding his immediate
resignation. Before the closing OF
the convention the following resolu-
tion was adopted:
considering the general situation Of
the country and realizing that the Or
lando ministry cannot satisfy the needs