The Washington herald., 1919-08-25

Rome, Aug. sO.-Premier Nitt has
surprised all Italy by his methods.
Nitu's methods are ouuspoken. like
those Of Billy Sunday and The late
Col Roosevelt
Only a fortnight ago it was said
everywhere that his cabinet would not
last more than a few days Dan
nunzio and his followers were shout
ing themselves hoarse in denunciation-
The Hotel Bristol. where the premier
was living, had 10 be surrounded by
armed police. and riots against The
government were the order OF the day.
In two weeks NItu revealed himself
as one Of the ablest men in Italy. and
10y no means an unequal successor TO
former Premier Giovanni Giolitti. the
veteran statesman, who is said to be
the power behind the scenes Of the
present government.
In a sense Nitti Is the most Ameri-
can of all Italian statesmen. although
he knows no English and his knowl
edge of America Is confined 10 the
little he picked up during his recent
trip TO Washington on 4 political mis-
sion. He has Erappled with the prob
lens OF the day and has succeeded in
defeating the Socialists. His victory
over them and his mastery Of the sit
uatIon during the attempted strike OF
the S1st OF July was equal 10 that OF
Premier BRAND IN 1911 against the
railroad men Of France when a gen
eral strike was threatened.
Nitti Speaks Right oBt.
The following are his views on the
present situation.
Italy needs to cut out the usual red
tape. Italy is poor at present but
not so poor as people abroad seem TO
think. The trouble lies chiefly i'm tho
secret We have made Of our diAicsl-
ties. The people Of Italy have been
told that the war has been won for
no advantage, because owing to p
lomsuC and economic reason all OF
her aspirations cannot be material
lied. it IS the greatest mistake IN
aginable-
Italy has won the war and won
il to very great and distinct advau-
tsGe. We h2ve now a solid frontier.
almost impregnable. We are rid Or
the Austrian yoke which was weigh
ing heavily on our shoulders and pre-
TO work for our greater program
which is one Of the erouomIcal and
political enlargement Europe wll
soon realize that Italy is at present
the strongest nucleus OF the European
continent France. whose territory is
/ two-hfLhs larger than ours. has a
smaller population than Italy. And
while we are today nearly forty mil
lions. we shall be over fifty millions
in less than ten years
We possess a greater number OF
men able TO work them any other
country. This is more than sold. II
is power. and for power, / mean
power TO carry on a program OF civ
! iliZation and progress. We do not
want any other war. We want 10 be
on friendly terms with all nations.
The present misunderstood Ings, origi-
mated at the Peace Conference, will
soon be smothered over. Italy Is the
natural friend OF the United States
and the natural friend Of France.
The United States will need labor
/ in future because of Americas won
derful resources. And Italy has got
labor; good labor. And this labor
must not go to the American market
and slump il with offers OF cheap
wages. Your American WorkinEman
has the right to protect himself. and
therefore, the right to protect his labor
market according to the standard OF
prices he has earned and set up as a
result Of the war.
ItaIy's Reconstruction.
Our workingmen must submit to
the same rule and not try TO outbId
his native colleague. The same Ap-
plies to France Our nearness, our
Latin blood, our community OF in
terests make the two countries bound
to become more and more closely
friendly.
''It is a vast program OF work and
Of reconstruction which lies before US.
Italy is graphing with it in great
style Economically we are sound. We
have only sIS.nO0 0noonO national debt
of which $4,000. 10000 is with foreign