The New York herald., 1922-04-23

Rome, April 12. !
The Fascist are the most active
political organization in Italy. From
groups of patriotic soldiers they
evolved a semi military organization
with posts scattered over Italy much
like the American Legion. Since their
convention in November last they
have become a conservative party but
aggressive in Parliament and in local
elections.
The leaders are from various parties
drawn together in a common love of
force in politics at home and abroad.
The Fascist in this respect have much
In common with the Orgesch and vari-
Gus other secret semi military organi-
cations in Germany which have kept
their arms in the hope of realizing
nationalistic ambitions. At times the
Fascist use secret terrorization
methods similar to those of the Ku
klux Klan. Again they mobilize and
come out into the streets and fight.
The Fascist are in the field again
and now seek to shape Italy's foreign
policy. Fascist led the recent upriS-
ing and raid on Fiume which resulted
In the ousting of Zanella's local gov
ernment. Fascist levelled the auto
cannon on the palace, which made
Zanella decide to seek a quiet corner
In Vienna 1t was Fascist Deputy
Giuariatti. formerly D'Annunzio's chief
of staff at Fiume. who consented to
organize a pro-Italian provisional gov
ernment in Fiume. They are Fascist
too who made Fiume seem more vital
to the man on the street in Italy than
the Capitol at Rome and who are now
telling the people that they can only
be- happy when Fiume and the Dali
NATHAN coast come under Italian rule.
strong In Politics.
The Fascist. too, take vigorous hold
OF Italian domestic problems. Tney
marshal the Italian people into line Tor
their issues much as a general directs
his troops Where persuasion does not
suffice and they meet active resistance
The Fascist bring out their guns on
the whole they would rather use them
than not. In short. the Fascist are the
most energetic ard up and coming eie-
anent In Italian politics. and more than
any other group at present are Shaping
1taly's immediate destiny.
What are the new tendencies OF the
Fascist on every day Italian HE? what
does their entry as political party into
Parliament mean In italian politics and.
finally. who are the leaders in the Fas-
risti movement who are shaping the
italian nationalist movement to-day?
At a critical moment in the war the
Fascist came into existence as courage
builders" at the front and as a sort OF
yigilantes at the rear, active in COM
Ao i've al ssdafaa iOf,ap and against all
compromise with the enemy. A mortally
wounded officer among the Fascist
founders spent his last days going from
kity to city arousing q crusading spirit
Tor continuation of the war. After the
armistice In 1919 and 1920 the Fascist
made fighting Bolshevsm their chief
business Thanks to energetic leader
ship among the Fascist and to the
quibbling and divisions in Communist
ranks. the Fascist fought and smashed
Boshevism In Italy.
This left the Fascist knight Grants
high and dry without cause. Without
n national aim. local Fascist posts be-
gan saving wood in their own back
yards. In some of the big industrial
towns manufacturers engaged them as a
sort OF super-police to protect factories
in times OF labor troubles. The Fascist,
indeed, are much more effective than the
local police. Sometimes they are too
effective. evidenced by the fact that
where Fascist hold demonstrations the
Government usually mobilizes the army
TO keep law and order rather than de-
pend merely on the local authorities to
do SO. In some towns the Fascist have
acted as strike breakers. They are there
fore usually at odds with labor, but less
so now that the issue OF Bolshevism has
become a secondary one.
Ala Peoples Cause.
But the Fascist. contrary TO what
radicals outside italy assert. are less
Inclined to defend class interests as
such than popular causes, whatever
they are. II In north Italian factory
towns the Fascisti helped the influential
manufacturers. in some other districts
where the people had control they lent
n hand to the peoples cause. They or
ganized the fisherman sailors at Genoa.
In Emilia they recruited a large part
OF tho small farmers. who had before
been Socialists In Farrarese. a district
OF this province, thew went even further.
combating the large landowners and
demanding small farms for deserving
Fascist
The Fascisti are heavily armed. They
even have machlne guns, aptocannon
events demonstrated. Italian arsenals
would seem 10 be open as public be-
neficence. judging from the case with
which both Faccisti and. two years ago.
the Communists managed to get arms.
When the Communists were also
armed and organized into private armies
pitched battles in tho crowded streets
OF northern Italy we're a daily occur
renee.
Now there are few pitched battles be
tween Fascist AMI labor because the
Socialist and Communist forces are
either disbanded or have changed their
tactics for more peaceful methods. The
italian papers are filled instead with
worries OF petty street fights between
Fascist ana workers. Fascist raid So
ciaIiar papers which do not seem to be
sufficiently netionaiistic. There are dis
trIcts. for example. where Socialist
member Of Parliament would not go for
fear OF his ife. Fascist, too arc al
ways present at labor demonstrations
and lead In counter agitation.
Some foreign observers Of Italian poll
ltics. and especially the Italians them.
selves, are inclined to exaggerate these
daily Incidents, to use larger words. and