The Washington herald., 1919-12-28
~ JOHN LLOYD BALDERsroN.

~ JOHN LLOYD BALDERsToN.
Paris. Dec. 3a-Bolshevism has
made Its nrst appeal to the verdict
81 the ballot box. At the general
election in France last week II was
badly beaten, but the agents o.
Lenine here take comfort for their
lack Of success In the fact that
Bolshevism swept Northern Italy.
BoIshevism Is international. and its
directors do not mind defeats IN
sne country II they can win VIC
tories In another.
This story aims to explain the
political position here in France
following the most momentous cleo
lion in the history OF the third re-
public But the International men
nee directed from Moscow takes no
heed Of frontiers, and the same bat
tie was fought with less success
Tor the conservative forces. In Bel
GUM and Italy.
Bolshevism rejoices over Italy
and Belgium while II mourns over
France. This although the govern
nent won = majority in the italian
Chamber, and although the Social
lst party in Belgium which achieved
great successes is admittedly nom
Bolshevist. The Reds hope to pene-
trate the Belgian Socialist party
from within. as they have sought
TO DO with the American Fedora
ton Of Labor. and thus they regard
Belgian Socialist gains as Offering
an opportunity for soviet rule at
no distant date in Brussels and
Antwerp.
In Italy the Rolshevil7 success Is
serious, for the Socialist party that
swept North Italy, unlike the French
and Belgian Socialists, is avowedly
out for a social revolution and a
Soviet system. Italy Is thought here
to be on the brink OF a real social
revolution: il is no matter of a re-
public inste I'd Of a monarchy. but OF
Q dictatorship OF the proletariat''
svowedly initiated from Russia that
Is in the balance. The Italian So
cialist party alone in Western Europe
has formally given its adherence to
Lenine's call for an international con-
ference of the workers Of the world
In Moscow.
North Italy BolshsSik.
And North Italy. the industrial and
manufacturing part OF the kingdom.
voted Bolshevik by a large majority.
Throughout the South the clerical and
conservative parties won and secured
control Of the Chamber for Premier
Nitti, with the result-that the North
ern Bolsheviks have at once commenc-
ed agitation for a secession OF the
North. with the great cities of Milan,
Turin and Florence. from the ''reac-
tionary' South. Then. say the North
N.a1rrhlf1 10 IN
in the more advanced regions, and
Rome and Naples can do as they
choose.
Throughout Italy. outside the North,
the apathy at the election was eX-
traordinaTy. In Rome only % per cent
OF the voters went to the polls, at
Naples 60 per cent. In Calabria two
communes decided to protest against
the neglect OF their province by the
government. Instead of showing dis
pleasure by voting against the gov
eminent. the towns of Bonifati with
I,36 registered voters. and Bocchi-
Eliero with Los. adopted the novel
method Of the boycott. In neither
town did a single voter cast a ballot.
Thrc''--"''' IRE whole country, the Boil
shsv'a- Socialists got I'D seats. the
CT. = about 100. and the Imperialist
o. Nationalist faction, which has
maie the most row about Fiume and
nrlmatia, was swamped and elected
Only a handful of members.
Between you and US" Clemenceau
proclaimed in an election speech ad-
dressed TO the French Socialists, 1T
Is a question of force" The Tiger
won. and by a margin that is said
to have astcunded him. The new
Parliament will be no fun" said the
veteran premier sadly. There will
be no opposition
Defeated In France
But things are not always what
they seem, least Of all in France. At
the polls, the forces of law and or
der won an astonishing success. The
Socialists got only So seats, as against