New-York tribune., 1922-10-29
Fascist d Hybrid Formed
OF Jinggo and Labor Groups
Organization Started so Stem Tide of Socialism
Now Blends Nationalist Program With Fight
for Laws Favoring Workers (


Of their respective industries and
branches of the public service.
But, on the other hand, Benito Nus
solini, the president and founder of the
Fascist, recently stated at conven-
ton of the agricu tural Fascisti, held
in Emilia, the following general prin-
ciples:
/ /. Opposition TO the industrial state.
2. Abandonment by the state OF all
rnonopolstic enterprises (incIuding
the postal service) and return to the
sole function Of political and judicial
order.
8. Opposition to all internationalisra.
4. The creation Of a united. ,trone
labor organization, self-disciplined and
actuated by sane idealism; this TO
have strictly national character to
Offset the prejadicial effects of inter-
national proietarian solidarity.
8. The evolution of the Itaiien state
into true republican government.
/ z. Italian expansion In the Mediter-
ranean and the world.
The sixth item in the preceding
statement of principles Is not To be
interpreted as meaning the retire.
ment of the monarchy. Mussolni, al
though republican in tendency"
stated quite recently at Naples in re-
ply to taunts that he was trying TO
overthrow the monarchy that the Fas-
cisti accepted the monarchy Gin prin-
ciple"
Little is known locally about Benito
Mussolin!. the leader Of the Fascist.
save that he at one time was. like
Aristide BRAND. former French Pre-
n1ier, very extreme socialist, and was
before the outbreak Of the war the
editor of "Avarti." the most powerful
socialist newspaper in Italy. Mussolini
is said to be about forty-one years old,
and he taught French in secondary
school.
Urged Italy to Join
War on Side Of Allies
3 With the outbreak Of the war hs
deserted his socialistic beliefs and
urged the entrance Of Italy on the side
of the allies. When Italy Joined In,
Mussolini enlisted and was wounded
i In action. It was shortly efter the
close of the war that he organized
the original band of about 1000 Fas-
cisti. During the war he edited
paper called "Popolo dTtalia." which
, was then the organ of the soldiers
and now is the organ Of the Fascist.
7 Little else is known about him.
In an article on the Fascist In the
current "New Republic" Giuseppe
Prezzolini. an authoritative italian
journalist, writs however. that the
e astonishing spread Of the Fascista
} PARTY Is not what most engages Ital-
ian interest at this moment" The
question which interests italy most,
; he says, is whether the Fascista syn
, dicntes, formerly proletarian leagues,
, will carry on the same battles they
, were fighting as socialists.
, "Will," writes Prezzolini, "'Fascismo,
, In other words, become a nationaiistic
socialism or an instrument In the
, hands Of capital?"
/ According TO Prezzolini, the Fascist
recently seized the Del Monte estate
At Cortaldo. & in Tuscany. on the pre-
t text that unused lands must be brought
) under cultivation The proprietors,
! he says, were obliged to give work TO
: Sha ~
r cista unions. Then the Fascio of Ger
, taldo published proclamation threat
eping all land owners who had Gland
to cultivate, vineyards or olive orchards
to plant" to snake haste in doing so,
under penalty Of the military occu-
; patton Of their properties"
The owners capitulated at once. un-
dertakng to work ell their lands,
!. whether profitable OF not. to give en-
ployment to twenty-five extra 1aYm-
hands and @to compensate the national
: Fascista party for all expenses Of
y the occupation"
a Prezzolini says also that The Fascist
: National Union Of Steel Workers al
I, Turin declined to accept an addition
of one hour to their eight-hour day,
and that in Perugia, In Umbria, the
4 Fascist have Just occupied factory
t that was not paying wages on time;
at Andria, in Apulia. they have sue
? cessfully imposed the employment Of
I men out Of work, and at Gottolengo,
a in Lombardy, their squsdrons Of riders,
called the "Black Shirts" compelled
9 employers to cancel wage reductions
. which had bean announced.
: The Fascist labor strength, 10 msy
1 be interesting TO explain In this com
i nection, was built up by "borfng from
within" the old unions and farm
' leagues. and by forming entirely new
: groups sponsored and protected against
: communist and socialist aggression by
the Fascist squadrons.
Writing August go, Mr.. Heais stated
: that the 'eecretary OF the Fascist con-
federation. Rossoni. has tust reported
that In Now Ligurs the three thou-
: send members Of che sindacasi rosss,
y or red unions, have Joined the local
u corporazioni Ga member Of FaseiesI