The New York herald., 1921-05-24
Nitti's Strength a Surprise.


Nitti's Strength a Surprise.
Since the italian general elections
on May 10 former Premier NITrT has
been discreetly silent on the results
and upon the future course Of his
political adherents. In strict sense
NITTr could scarcely be said to have
been the leader of party or his sup
porters 70 have formed a recognized
political unit; they entered the cam
paign with no other apparent purpose
except TO support Signor NITTI, whose
enemies accused him of having no per-
manent policy during his Premiership.
But one of the surprising develop
ments OF the canvass of the votes
Is that rather clearly defined Nitti
party has emerged and 1t has won
from the most unexpected quarters
forty -one seats in the Chamber OF
Deputies.
One reason for this show of strength
in a man who had been bat recently
overthrown-not the only reason,
however-may be found In the fact
that NITTI became the centre of a
severe attack by the Fascist or ex-
treme Nationalists. To him they
charged much of the gain made by the
extreme Socialists In towns like Bo-
logna and Padua, and the threatened
spread throughout italy of commu-
nism under the patronage and direc-
ton Of the Moscow Soviet. Many of
the Fascist leaders asserted that the
country has suffered more In one year
of NrTT1's Premiership than In the
four years of the war.
These charges, when specifically ex-
planned, were that NIrTI temporized
and bargained with Socialistic groups
In order to hold securely his own
position, that he gave the impression
that the Government was afraid Of
the power of radicalism, and that in
stead of using a firm hand he melted
every radical move by opportunist
tactics The effect, however, was
somewhat different from what the
Fascist had planned, in that men,
bers Of some OF the Socialistic
groups which recognized parllamen-
tary methods and had won conces-
sions from the Nitti Government
voted with the former Premier's loyal
supporters.
The opportunity Of the Nitti party
to show its strength can come only
through advantageous combinations.
Its forty-one votes are not sufficient
TO combat alone the votes of GIoLITTI's s
political party, to say nothing Of
the ministerial bloc of POI. The Gov
ernment Is now counting upon even
more than this bloc; 1t expects the
support of the Nitti party as well as
the Popular party, in all about 3S6
votes. 1t places the opposition at
149, the combined votes of the So
cialists. Republicans and Communists.
GIoLITTI knows that he can depend
upon the support OF NITTI's adherents
only II he does not attempt to force
through a reactionary programme.
Here will undoubtedly be the most
closely watched feature of the whole
course OF italian legislation. The
Fascist feel that they have been
strongly instrumental in winning the
election and they are very likely to
demand more severe measures than
ever before against all radicalism.
The Nitti party will oppose reac-
tionary programme as much az 1t Will
radlcalism, and It will not be slow to
make an issue on this point
It's hopes for success will depend
largely upon the support which 1t Is
able to secure from the Popular party.
which has LOG votes, the opposition
parties and other small groups whose
allegiance to GIoL1TTI is more or less
I'm question. IL 1t should win and
N1rTr be returned to the Premiership
he will be wise enough to appreciate
the lesson of the last election, which
is that Sovietism is dead In Italy
and that the country wants no more
weak, vacillating governments.