The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-09-15
SITUATION IS
MUCH CRAVE R.
Industrial Turmoil in Italy Has
Reached Alarming Stage
With Many
Angles.
DEMANDS OF WoRKMEN
Extreme Radicals Would Take Advant.
age of Power to Overthrow Gov
ernment for Soviet
Rule.
[By Camille Cianfarra, United Press
4afA

[By Camille Cianfarra, United Press
Staff Correspondent
ROME, Sept. 15.-Conflicting ele-
ments, each seeking to employ the
! economic crisis in Italy to attain
their own ends, have succeeded in
SO involving the situation that it has
become a maze of Industrial, social
and political cross currents.
Despite the growing optimism in
official circles, the situation appar-
emily is becoming graver owing to
the inability of anyone to coalesce
these elements in attaining a COM
mon end. According to the best OBJ.
tainable information today, the vari-
! Gus phases of the situation were:
| The extreme radicals in Italy, abet-
ted by the corresponding element in
: adjacent countries, were striving to
| influence the workers to turn the
economic steps they have taken into
political action, overthrowing the
| monarchy and setting UP a soviet
government embodying all the prin-
ciples of the third internationale.
| The manufacturers were blockin g
I! any attempt at settlement that
would imply moral victory for their
| employees. Some reports stated a
number of the employers were will
| ing to institute profit-sharing sys-
tenn in the factories, fearing the
! workers may succeed in wholly
eliminating capitalism from the eco
nomic scheme.
The great majority of workmen
who at first began taking over the
metal factories merely to prevent a
threatened lockout, were gradually
increasing their demands as they
realize their power. 1t appeared GER
tain they were determined not to re-
turn to the status quo and that the
proposed profit-sharing plan is the
least they will accept. s..... ..
|. The government, which has step
ped in to referee the present negotia-
tions between manufacturers and
workers at Milan, Is still inclined to
maintain a hands off, policy. But
the government has issued a warning
that armed intervention will follow
Immediately any attempt to throw
the conflict into politics. ,
From the metal workers the move
ment has spread to the farms, the
mines and the chemical industry.
Railway workers, cooperating with
the strikers, have forced soldiers to
evacuate troop trains in the northern
provinces. ..e
Government officials and the Ital
ian press express confidence a salts
factory settlement will be speedily
reached at the Milan conference.
Workers, particularly in Turin.
were giving evidence they intend to
go their own way, irrespective of the
action Of their national representa-
tives.
In view of this, it was believed
some difficulty will be experienced in
readjusting the Situation even If
basis for settlement is found.
Solution Rests With Labor.
ROME, Sept. dissolution of the
economic controversy in Italy has
passed into the hands Of the Confed-
Grafton of Labor, representing nearly
two million workers and the Confed-
GRAFTON of Industries, representing
more than $4,000, 100000 capital, ac-
cording to Senator Cont
The meeting of the Confederation of
Industries in Milan today was expect
ed to reach epoch making decisions af-
fecting Italy's national and industrial
future.
While the manufacturers were not
opposed to permitting the workers to
share in the profits and allowing them
representation in the administration
of each industry, they will oppose any
attempt of the unions to intervene in
the active management of the fac
tories or to place limitations on the
rights of technical and financial di-
rectors, it WIS learned from an au-
thoritative source.