The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-11-24
ITALY iMOURNS
HER NOBLE SON

HEX NOBLE SON
Rome, Nov. 2A-By the Associat
ed Press Italy today mourned ths
passing Of Baron Sonnino, twice pre-
mier and foreign minister during the
World war. He died last night afte,
an apoplectic stroke earlier In tn.
day.
Baron Sidney Sonnino, "the silent
Istatesman Of Italy," disliked to talk
but could be fluent in five Languages,
He was Prime Minister Of Italy in
1905 and again in 1910. From 1sti
to 1919, he was Minister Of Foreign
Affairs. He also served as Minister
Of Finance, as Minister Of the Interi,
or and as a member Of parliament.
He brought to the Paris peace Ssn.
ference the reputation Of "the first
financier of Europe, the man who had
probed the economic life of the world
to the core"
81 do not shine, do not glitter
he said on one occasion in the Cham
ber Of Deputies. 81 leave that sort of
thing to my political opponents. I
am satisfied if can reveal an occa-
sional CLEAN of common sense" At
another time, addressing his indiffer
ent colleagues, he said: 81 propose 20
put little knowledge Of the state OF
the nations revenue into your heads
whether you feel interested or not"
While Minister Of Finance he was
credited with having laid the founda,
tion for his country's stability from
the revenue standpoint and for his
establishment of budget surpluses.
Baron Sonnino was one Of the most
abstemious of men in spite of his
wealth. Even before the war, he
practiced the most rugged economies.
I-aly could not borrow favorably in
the London market by reason Of her
enormous public debt. Sonnino low
cred it by vigorous taxation, by re.
ducing public salaries and expendi.
t,rres and dismissing needless en-
ployees. The politicians, therefore.
hated him.
"1 would not think Of having a fire
in my bedroom" he protested TO- the
deputies on one occasion. "Our ftali !.
an winters are too beautiful to be
suoi'ed in that fashion. When a
sSicilian deputy Ecomplained Of the
food supply In . crisis OF the wac,
Sonnino grimly responded: u haye
IA meat &ns sFeais
"a Jew by race, a Protestant By
faith and native Of Egypt, the man
who was one day. destined to handle
the Italian ship Of state, was born Of
an Italian Jewish father a Scotch
mother on March II, 1S47, on the
banks of the Nile. He was.sduoated
partly in England and at the Uni
versity Of Pisa.
Sonnino's grandfather migrated
from the ghetto of Leghorn, Italy, to
Egypt where he built up an enor-
nous fortune as banker, fortune
which the future Premier of Italy en-
joyed.
Before entering politics he was edi-
tor Of the magazine "Rassegna"
which he founded and in which for
years he aired his political and econ
omic views. He also wrote and lee
tured on Dante and Petrarch of
whose works he was a close student.
Later he became one Of the proprie-
tors of the Giornale D'Italia. Baron
Sornino was always interested in the
welfare of the Italian farmers. His
book, "The Peasants in Sicily" was
notable contribution to public
knowledge Of agrarian conditions in
that country. One Of his aims, he
said, was to revive southern Italy
economically and mroally. He also
built local railways, put isolated re-
gions in touch with great markets,
strengthened the farm banks and as.
sisted villages and towns in fighting
;,literacy. He possessed wonderful
library. The Baron never married.
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