Albuquerque morning journal., 1922-11-12

On one Of the occasions when he
lay wounded In a hospital, the king
visited him, shook hands with him
and offered to do what he personal
ly could for him. The royal visit
produced a profound impression
throughout Italy because Of Mus
solini's prominent Identification
with the socialist party. This, pre-
sumably, was his first meeting with
the king, the next was when be
went some two months ago to the
Quirinal to consult with the king
during one of the many recent
crises in Italian public affairs.
Mussolini is a master of men, his
friends assert. There are men OF
authority and Of power whose inn
portance you do not realize when
you enter their presence, unless you
are aware OF their identity. Your
first glance at Signor Mussolinl
when you enter his presence for the
first time produces an arresting inn
preston upon you, even II you are
not aware of his identity. You feel
at once as you look into his dark
eyes, that you are in the presence
of greatness-not only ofAa distinct
superiority to the ordinary run OF
men, but of an extraordinary supe
riority, an unquestionable great
ness
A Ready Ducllst
Mussolini is described as beins
nearly six feet tall and possessing
great muscular strength; and al
though vigorous and quick In his
movements he is a man of very few
words. Popular belief assigns to
Italians considerable volubility OF
speech, but this is not true OF the
Fascista leader; he is almost tacl-
turn. Even in his writing he holds
| himself down to a minimum OF
words. In his paper, I'll Popolo,
published in Milan, he has never
been known to write an article
more than column long at the
most. Yet he is described as a great
orator, one who sways his followers
by the fire and eloquence of his
speech. Both in his writings and III
his speech he is direct and to the
point Says a friend, the man at
whom his article In II Popolo' may
be directed becomes politically non
existent. And because of his eftec-
| tiveness in newspaper polemlcs, ht
has fought fifteen or twenty duels'
Mussolini never Intentionally pro
vokes a duel, but when he is chal'
Ienged, his friends say, he fights
with the utmost readiness. Indeed
it would seem that he has his duel
| ing down to a system, so much sc
that he loses neither time nor sleeE
over them. Having been chal'
lenged, he has the time fixed fol
the encounter marked down by ms
secretary. When the hour arrives
If he is writing one Of his articles
say, his secretary jogs his arm anc
remarks: 'Signore Mussolini, 1t Il
time Signor Mussollni grabs ms
coat and hat and is gone to keeE
his engagement. Sometimes 1t Is
necessary for him to go in an eX'
traordinary hurry. In that case h'
goes in an airplane."
His acquisition of the art OF driV'
ing a plane Is characteristic of him
He had had no training in aviator
in the war. But when he began M
political activities after the war, ~
presence to take. charge of critica
situation was sometimes required
at very short notice. SO, to increas'
his mobility, he learned to pilot al
airplane.
Llkens Him to Roosevelt
Zone of his striking character
istics," says an Italian acquaintanc
Of Mussolini, is his lack of ambi
tion. Therefore 1t is impossible t.
bribe him with high office, an,
more than with money. He is Al
aristocrat of the aristocrats, a ma
of the highest university education
And yet he is in the closest toucl
with the masses. His understand
ing of the people began shortly aft
er his graduation from the univers
ity, when he made a tour of TIL
Italian colonies in Germany
| France, Switzerland and Bulgaria
On these trips, which he took be
fore he began his career as a teach
er, he carried on a campaign o
education"
This same friend, a New Yorl
merchant, goes on enthusiasticall,
IN recent interview to liken Mus
solini to Roosevelt. "In many re
spects," he says, the leader of tn,
FasGjsti bears a striking resem
blance, as man and thinker, t
Theodore Roosevelt. Like him, h,
is an indefatigable athlete. Lik,
him he is in thorough touch witt
the people. Like him he acts will
hghtning-like swiftness, and tn,
range of his interests is vast. He i
in intimate touch with the lates
developments in economies. lie ha,
something of Roosevelt's ruthless
ness, something of Roosevelt's pas
sionate restlessness, something O
Roosevelt's impatience with tn.
man whose eyes are turned toward
the past. From what | know of hin
should say that he is in every wa,
the best equipped man in Italy t
put his country back on its feet
And he will brook no opposition tC
the accomplishment Of that pur
pose"
This youthful premier of ITALY
was only 20 years old when he was
made editor Of Avanti, the officia
organ of the Socialist party. Hi,
force of character and personality
raised him at once to front rank; il
1913 he was the idol of the party
and could sway thousands as hC
wished. But the war broke his be.
lief in internationalism which wa.
the center of the Italian Socialist,
creed. He saw the German Social
lists throw overheard their doctrine.
at the beginning Of the war, ans
adopt the imperiallstic Deutschland
uber allies. 1t cured him to witnes.
this show OF hollowness upon the
part of professed internationalists
and in his reaction he swung to th,
other extreme, the extreme of ma
tionalism which is at the bottom O.
the Fascista movement.
Must Go to Work
Coming out Of the world war
confirmed notionalist, he organize,
tha Eu cHilti utb icI bo Il tI,o4 49,,