The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-12-03
WHO'S BOSS N ITALY, EMPLOYER OR EzNPLOYE?
Dorothy Thompson Sent to Italy By the International 2 News Service to Visit Industries Seized By the
 Workers and Now Operated Under Joint Control, e v.t Writes Series of Graphic Pen Pictures of 4 gi Which This Is the Third

madness. He believes that it. would be comparatively easy for any radical
 ture in the north, "but how,' he asks
 'could we maintain a revolution?"
 Do we want to repeat in Italy the
 tragedy of Russia?'
 He went over to the wall where a map of Europe was hanging. Look" he said, pointing rapidly from one country to another. Here is Italy and here is Gibraltar; here is Swift zerland; here is England. Do Eng land and Switzerland want a revolu tion in Italy? Would they help us? If England wanted to do so she could bring about famine in Italy
 port Italy through a revolution? | Would France? No ,indeed she | would send troops tof fight it. Look at Italy herself Look at are the most radical in Europe. There | are million of them organized into |
 one Socialist trade union; but by their | own magnificent organization they | have achieved unprecedented so- cial and economic prosperity. Would
 8. revolution help them? No, it
 mouths. And without the support of | the peasants the revolution could not 1 last. There is twenty days sup ply of coal in Italy; there is about
 ply us with food Could Germany and | Russia send us coal? Where else | would we get it?
 | Revolution Would Be Madness "A revolution would be madness. | Very well, then, must not have | it. We must have a peaceful pro- | gress toward the things which the
 workers want They want to be their l own masters.
 ''This scheme of labor control does | only one thing It puts the workers 1 OF Italy in a position to know what the economic situation here really is. i The workers are not children. When | the metal workers asked for a wage | increase, and they told that the prof
 it's of the industry were insufficienut | to permit it, they wanted to know | why. The workers want to be in | position where they can watch the
 books, see how much it costs to pro- l duce a given product, and see where the profits go- Then we will know
 how to act That is what is meant
 Workers Represented
 'In each factory the workers will
 have representative on the board
 of directors Each national federa-
 ton of trade unionA-Such the ] General Confederation of Labor, the
 SvndjcaHs.s, etc.-which has a branch of it's organization in the factory will
 nominate it's own member for this board from among the workers in
 the factory and the selection will be made by all the workers from among these nominees.
 '"1'hese representatives will not be sufficient in number tO control the : board of industry, but the workers do not want control now. in the ordinary sense of the word. They want infor- matiOn.
 ''These representatives will have access to all books and will attend all meetings. Once a month they will report to superior committee from the entire industry. This Superior 3 committed will be chosen in this fashion: Each national syndicate rep ] resented in the industry will nomi- nate ticket and the committee will - be elected by the already elected rep g resentatives in the shops.
 This superior committed will be s kept informed of everything which is f taking place in every factory in the X industry which they represent. They
 will learn how capital is furnished; : what are the relations between the s banks and the industries where inef- = ficiency arises, what wage conditions s are and how they compare with prof. n its, what are the costs of production. = Want Years Trial
 t Then after a year or two, we = shall have the basis upon which to f ask for further control. We will be !, able to form an intelligent opinion T as to the possibility of tranSforTnin n 2 2 capital from individuals or associa- q tions from individuals into some form e of workers cooperative, and to work
 out means and methods of affecting
 such transactions and of administer = ing such co-operatives'
 o Three opinions. all supported by in e te1ligent observations appear to pre- $ vail in Italy regarding this scheme @ will be to make the workers more y conservative. It will bring them in.
 to touch with the grave realities o1 e the present industrial situation ir F italy and make them hesitant abou ,s sefzing responsibilities which they h will know to be greater than they evel st dreamed. It is significant that this V, opinion Is shared by the left wing o1 I Fl IoI, xUI hat I1<