Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-06-25
CHEVALTER BALDI
UNDER HOT FIRE
Members Of Italian Colony
Allege Underhand Methods
to Discredit Di Silvestrio
ENJOYS VISIT SEQUEL

Assertions that Chevaller c. c. A. Baldi
resorted TO underhand methods to have
Joseph ri Silvestrio, grand master Of the
Sons Of Italy excluded from the dinner
to the Italian ENJOYS were made today by
prominent Italians, who have Joined a gen.
eral protest against Baldls actions Two
Italian organizations have condemned the
Chevaler's activities and one has requested
his resignation.
Further steps are also contemplated, they
said, to prevent the spreading Of the Baldi
dynasty at the expense OF the loyal Ital-
ians Of the city. The anti-Baldlans assert
that Bald is only leader in his own opinion
and that his actions have shown that his
chief aim is to spread his power through
the promotion Of members Of his family
TO various political positions.
In the case of Di Sivestrio, II is asserted
that Baldi tried TO blacken his character at
a conference with Mayor Smith, and It was
necessary for Joseph Geatie, the Italian
Consul, TO interfere When the Italian
Consul heard that ri Slvestro would be
omitted from the list Of guests at the din
ner he notified the Mayor unless Dl Sill
Nestrio was included he would 90 to WASH
ington and have the visit Of the ENJOYS
called off, Thereupon Di Silvestro was in
vited.
John Dl Slvestro a brother. said that
while Chevalier Bald found opportunity 10
attack his brother he made no mention of
tne Iact Baldi's son sought to pass the law
examination of the State board by fraud
ID Silvestrio asserted that among other
representative citizens selected bv BALD
was a man known to be a white SLAYER
~ SllVestrio declared that nearly all the
baiui tamlly were entrenched in political
positions and that Bald pretended to be
ieauer Tor the purpose Of gaining favor with
the political leaders.
There is no man in the Italian colony so
unpopular said Di Slvestrio, because il ia
known that he has not done anything for
the Italians except those who may be MEM
bers Of his own family"
Many of the statements made bv nj
Silvestrio were corroborated by Nicola
D'Ascenzio, an artist He said that BaIdi
tried to besmirch the character Of Joseph
~ S'lNestrio and was in no sense a friend
of the Italian people.
The Circolo Italiano, nearly every ona 30
whose $50 members Is a college graduate
has demanded that Chevalier Bald resign
from membership. Following close unon
this action the Sons of Italy, con,prising
$4,000 members from seventy Italian So.
cieties, met yesterday and announced viii
men had been much mishaniled by Cheya-
ier Baldi.
simultaneously with the demand for hi.
resignation by the Circolo Italiano. r,sJe
at meeting on Saturday night In the club.
house. ll45 South Broad street, a telegram
was sent to the Italian envoys. as follows,
The undersigned Italian-American cliff
zens of Philadelphia extend 10 you. mas.
sengers of Rome to this allied nation in
this war for the realization of democracv
and national ideals, fervid, respectf,I
greetings, but doleful in that a bold oh.
stacle to the elevation Of the Italians of
Philadelphia for the last twenty wears
has impeded us with base intriEues in
giving full expression TO our patriotic
enthusiasm
The message was signed by Robert nm
bardi, president of Circolo ItaIiano. head y,
the Sons of italy State Bank, and an ex.
councilman from the Third Ward, and by
d, Di Lauro, the secretary.
Among those who indorsed the ,-,....
were DIR. Nicola Pernice chief surgsor 80
the Philadelphia branch Of the Italian Pa
Cross; Chevalier Francesca Travascio
business man; Chevalier Francesca PaInr,l
bo, president of tho South PhiladeInbia
state Bank; Nicola d'Ascenzo, an artist.
Francesca Roma, local renregenta
tive Of the Bank OF Naples; DR., G. M ne
Necchis, Dr. A Bove. DIR. A. d'Allesandro |
Constantine Constantine. publisher, and Dr.
G. Malatesta. ~
In answering the charges, ChevalIer RaId, |
explained that he was as fair and imnartioi
as he could be in preparing the iist 80 |
guests for the banquet A dozen hotsIs
would not have been sufficient to accommo. |
date all those who wanted to be AZ IN.
dinner, he added. Only 100 persons wsre
invited and many were turned down
Il think they are making a big rnistaL.
by causing all this fuss" Chevalier Raid,
said, especially since the visit of the en-
steal any glory in the reception 10 the 49, |
voys. We held a meeting at the Manufso-
turers Club to consider names, but ever,
one knew that II would be possible ~ 90
commodate only few. Our object was 10 |
have comprehensive list before us and
then to select representative citizens as
guests"