Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-07-19
LITTLE ITALY'S LEADERS

VTTE OBSERVED recently that the
w Italian Reconstruction Committee
while attempting to put an end TO the
leadership Of Mr.. Baldi in social affairs
would do we'll TO strike at the root evil
of his unpopular spokesmanship, which
is his political affiliation with the leaders
Of the Organization. Mr. Nicola D'As
cenzo thus sums up the opinion of his
colleagues:
They are happy to read an accurate
summing up Of conditions in Little Italy.
But they cannot understand your fore
cast that Mr.. Ware will have another
lieutenant to get out the immigrant vote
after Mr.. Bald has been deposed. II this
committee we're composed of a few divi-
sion leaders and half a dozen political
heelers and no one else, it would, we
admit, be quite easy for Mr.. Ware TO
name a lieutenant TO run things" For
tunately, however, the personnel of the
Italian Reconstruction Committee is Of
higher grade. There are lawyers, doctors,
merchants, manufacturers, presidents Of
three banks and men Of letters. Never
before were such prominent Italians
banded together in one fight. Do you not
J. believe that the 900 Italians Of Phla-
I, dephia have only honor and respect for
that committee? DO you not believe that
the entire Italian population will observe
10 the very letter whatever that committee
d recommends? The committee purposely
has no chairman because it fears that
the American public might consider the
chairman as the successor to Chevaler
Baldi There will be no successor to
Y Chevalier Baldi There will be no lead
or" of Philadelphia Italians Is there an
1riC dalp
leader. or an Austro-Hungarian leader?
Why then, should there be an Italian
leader? one word from the Italian Re-
construction Committee will put a last
ing "crimp" in whatever lieutenant Mr..
Ware names as Chevalier Baldrs success
sor, and similar treatment will be ac-
corded leutenants named by any other
political boss who parleys in the vouss
of the immigrant. 1r1'
We cannot praise too much this high.
minded point or view. The committee
sntertains a fine faith in the power Of
intellect and refinement to defeat the
power of political greed. Nothing could
be better than its refusal to encourage
a "hyphenated" Italian leadership. As
matter Of fact, men with Irish names,
IKE Trainer, and German names, like
Remig have been Councilmen from the
italian wards. A native of Germany,
Mr.. Blankenburg, was Mayor, and he is
a better American than many whose
ancestors came over in the Mayflower
It is apparent, nevertheless, that in the
absence of definite reform leadership in
politics, a corrupt leadership is sure to
take the helm in the Second and Third
Wards, and in all the other wards, and
will spread its corruption into the social,
moral and industrial life of the district,
as we'll as into its political life Every
movement must have leader, whether
an organization Of pirates or of angels is
contemplated 1t is the malady of Phila-
delphia life that our lawyers, doctors,
merchants, manufacturers, presidents Of
banks and men Of letters" to quote Mr..
D'Ascenzo's category do not take leader.
ship away from peanut politicians who
have neither intellect nor intelligence. The
Committee of Seventy has tried TO depose
our American-born Baldis-our Wares and
McNichols-and it has failed TO put
crimp in whatever lieutenant Mr. Ware
names precisely because many promi-
nent Philadelphians have neglected to
take and keep leadership
When we say the immigrant vote is
controlled by bosses, we say also that the
votes of many thousands Of native Ameri.
cans are controlled by bosses Efforts TO
educate natives and immigrants in social,
moral and industrial ways may be ex-
tremely successful, but all she good that
results is overthrown il political leader.
ship is allowed to pass by default to the
corrupt. ..'..
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