The New York herald., 1921-05-16
GIOLITTI'S PARTY Is
VICTORIOUS IN ROME
Flags Fly and Demonstrations
Occur in City to Mark
Nitti's Defeat.
WHOLE COUNTRY VOTES
Socialist Vote Show Large De-
crease-Fascisti Keep Or
der With Clubs.
WHOLE COUNTRY VOTES
By the Associated Press.

ROME, May 15.-General elections
were held throughout Italy to-day.
Members of Parliament were chosen, but
so far as related to the whole country
no definite results were known this eve
ming
In Rome the Constitutionalsts claimed
great triumph Houses were befagged
and demonstrations were held in differ
ent quarters to celebrate the victory.
The great fight was between the Con-
stitutionalists and Socialists. At Milan
the Socialists returned seventeen mem
bers. as compared with ten representa-
tives of all other parties. At Turin the
Socialists elected IL the Constitutional
lists, s. the Catholics. or Popular Party.
3. At Florence. the Socialists, 8; Con-
stitutionalists, 8; Catholics, 3.
The Socialist vote, which was notice
ably decreased almost everywhere, was
even smaller where Communist candi-
dates were on the ticket.
The Fascist, or extreme Natonalists,
armed with clubs and other weapons,
nnairtained order I'm the most turbulent
districts.
Four Big Parties i'm Contest.
Four main political parties-tne
Democratic Liberals, led by Premier
Giolitti. the Popular or Catholics,
the Socialists and the new Nationalists,
the latter backed by the Fascisti--each
divided into more or less important
factions, engaged yesterday in one of
tho gravest general elections held in
italy in nearly seventy-five years.
The principal issue was to determine
to what extent radicalism would be up
held or opposed by the voters. Incl
dentally, it determines the actual
strength of the Socialist party, which,
at the last elections in November, 1919,
returned no less than 156 members to
the Chamber of Deputies 1t has been
charged that this was more than their
constituency justified.
Dissolution of the italian Parliament,
ordered by the King on April Z, fol-
lowed more than seven months of pub
lie disorders due to strikes, fires and
operation Of factories by workmen in
various parts of the country, especially
in Lombardy.
These disturbances were followed by
the formation Of more than 100000
Fascist, or anti-Bolshevik Nationalists,
veterans and former Fiume legionaires,
who since early in the present year
have engaged in a war of reprisal and
repression against the revolutionaries.
Many Fall in Street Battles.
On one punitive expedition the
Fascist seized the Socialist Mayor OF
San Sepolcro, cut Off his beard and
marched him through the streets. They
burned many radical Communist labor
headquarters and the Communists, in
turn. hoisted the rod flag over numerous
town halls. Many persons were killed
and wounded In battles in the streets.
Giolitti, now rs years old, who had
been Premier and Minister OF the In
terror in 1918, again took the helm OF
was directed to calming the mind OF
labor. italy was on the verge OF an
industrial uphcavaI. Communists in
many places throughout the country
seized railroads, docks. spinning mills
tanneries, chemical works. banks and
other establishments and tried to oper-
ate them. They had frequent clashes
with the troops. Peasants looted the
palaces of the wealthy and confiscated
certain estates of the King before the
troops succeeded in dispensing them.
Giolitti. who at first maintained a
hands-off policy and was quoted as hav-
ing said that he was opposed to vio-
lence against the proletariat." called n
parley.of the employers and workers at
Turin. There, as mediator. he brought
about a truce by promising to introduce
in the Chamber OF Deputies n bill pro-
MD l,o kn arts1 ~L IL.