New-York tribune., 1921-03-06
Bologna Riots
Carry Threat.
OF Civil w ar
Battles Between Socialists
and Fascists for Suprem.
acy Likely to Spread
Through ITALY. Is Fear
Parliament Gets Report
Head of Investigating Com.
mittee Says Soldiers Or
ganizatiOn Is Now Strong
From. a Special Correspondent


Giufridda. head of the parliamentary
commission sent to Bologna, has been
published. 1t explains the cause of the
continual fights between the Socialists
and the Fascists. which resemble the
Guelph and Ghibelline struggles. With
the same disregard for life, each party
las fought for supremacy in the city
and province of Bologna.
The report throws light on the pres
ent disturbed conditions of central
Italy 1t points out that Bologna has
been the stronghold of socialism for
thirty years. From the beginning the
party was we'll organized and worked
assiduously to spread its propaganda
throughout the province. At first it
was beneficial, as the Socialists ever
were ready to point out bad manage
ment in municipalities and industries.
During the last year the communist
and extremist parties gained great
power. AT the last election seven out
of eight Deputies sent to Parliament
were Socialists. This victory had the
effect of making the Socialist element
domineering. The Leninists preached
sxviolence against their political enemies,
= especially the Fascists. The workmen
were told by their leaders that where
they could not obtain their ends by
lawful means they should use force.
Srrhe Nationalists and Fascists were to
ibe their enemies.
Ruled With Iron Hand
! Strikes increased, not only for eco
Anomic reasons, but for political ones.
Even though workman was satisfied
swith his pay he often was forced to go
m STRIKE ordeY fN chou, $ha
ment his leaders power. Not only did
the leaders insist that all workmen
should become members of the Red orr
CARNATIONS, but they ordered strikes
whenever non-Socia!ists tried to obtain
work. When a peasant who was not q
Socialist was employed on a farm the
leaders insisted that all the farmhands
should quit work until the land owner
discharged the man.
Farmers were prevented from dis
posing of their produce, or from get
8 ting foodstuffs, and in some cases where
illness overlook the family the doctor
eewas prevented from going to the house
or giving medical aid of any kind. The
Socialists ruled with q rod of iron dur
ing the year until the lives of others
Z became intolerable. 1t was felt espe-
cially in the country, where the Social
lists fixed prices and made money by
levying tax. For instance, during the
Vintage time they fixed the price of
grapes at ten francs more a cart than
the market price, the extra amount
going to the labor organization. This
is only one small item of the damage
caused by the Socialists in the province
of Bologna during the last six months.
The situation was so serious previous
to the elections and since that the Pre-
feet of Bologna compiled a report of
the various crimes committed by So
cialists and brought before the magis-
trates in this period.
Dissensions in Party
s@ There was such fear of the Socialists
that even after the murder of mu-
nicipal councillor in daylight the ma
jor.ty of the councillors abstained
from cooperating in any legal proceed
ings against the Socialists, who, it was
known, had plotted to rid the munici-
pal council Of all non-Socialists. The
scandal was SO great that the non-So-
calist Deputies resigned en- masse, al
though they had just been reelected.
The leaders of the Socialist party for
bhde them to resign, which exas-
,perated the non-Socialsts to such an
: extent that they resorted to violence
against those who were dominating
them.
The authorities allowed the Social
lists full power, and for this reason the
Fascsts took matters in their own
hands and were aided by Nationalists
from other cities.
This band of Fascists is composed of
ex-soldiers, who formed themselves
into an association after the war.
Their aim has been for civilian lib
ence or power, they have gathered under
their wing some of the best and most
patriotic young men in Bologna, mostly
students at the university. They are
IN sympathy with another young or
ganization in Bologna called always
Ready for Our Country and Our King"
These two parties, while powerful, have
no funds, and while, few are rich
mems sons the majority are sons of
families of moderate means
Trade Oppressed
The civil war which has been seeth-
ing in Bologna has been caused by
profession where the Socialist element
was lacking was forced to the wall and
Socialist trade given preference.
Profiteers have succeeded to the proper
ties of mobiles and high wages and little
work have replaced the old system.
The new order has been challenged
by the old and violent measures have
pCSU 0oCQ ny QOtu Slucc. " is LUlS Ce~
taliation which Giufridda fears. as civil
war, once started, may spread all over
the country.
During these Investigations there
has been no proof that the government
IS favoring the reactionary element in
Bologna.
Socialists Defended
While the Giufrdda report is con-
sidered correct by the Majority in the
House, that of the Minority, written bv
Alceste della Seta, the new Communist
Deputy, is condemnation of the
Fascists. Della Seta formerly was one
OF the official Socialists, but after the
Congress of Leghorn sided with the de-
serters Misana and Bombacci He de-
nies that the Socialists ruled bv fear
but says their power grew gradually
until they had taught the masses the
wonders of socialism. 1t was only
when the various parties wished to re-
gam power that they united. Two
years ago the Fascists were not to be
feared, but now, he says. thew are
: backed by secret funds. Della Seta as
serts that the murder of the municipal
councillor could have been prevented
had the Socialists been allowed to raise
The red flag. and that it was jealousv
Of the middle classes because of the
Socialists triumph in the elections
that caused all the trouble. "Thev
wished to cause trouble" he says, 80