Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-11-17
YOUNGEST PREMIER.
Mussolini, the Italian Premier, Is Only
Thirty eight Years Old.

Mussoini, the italian Premier, Is Only
Thirty eight Years Old.
One of the worlds youngest politi-
cal leaders today is comforting here
with King Victor Emmanuel on the
formation Of new Italian cabinet IN
which he will act as premier and be-
sides will take on his youthful shoulders
three separate portfolios, says a Rome,
Italy, dispatch.
He Is Benito Mussolini, 3S-beforc
the war a leader of Italian Socialist;
and now the head of the most bitter
anti-raGical body in the world, the
Fascist.
Mussolini's political career started
when he fought his way to the leader
ship OF the Italian Socialist party. He
became editor CT their newspaper or
gan, "Avanti." That was Immediately
before the outbreak of the World war
in 1914.
When the war came German Social
lists voted as a bloc to support the
fatherland in its military adventures.
When Italy entered the lists on the
side of the Allies, Mussolini wished his
followers to give the same support to
Italy.
Broke With Socialists.
The Italian Socialists refused. Then
Mussolini broke with them. He en-
listed in the army.
The ex Socialist leader came back
from the front after the armistice COW
cred with wounds and medals and
bearing in his heart bitter hatred
for the Italian radicals who had failed
their country in it's time of need.
He found Italian industrial and eco
nomic life upset. Unemployment was
rife and Italy's great economic safety
to the United States
had been cut off.
These conditions had prepared fer
tile spawning ground for bolshevist
propaganda. Afritators, many of them
inspired by funds sent from abroad,
were at work in all of Italy's indus
trial centers ard were gaining many
converts.
Then the germ Of the Fascist or
ganization was born in Mussolini's
mind. He began banding together his
former army comrades in political
groups, sworn to oppose the red flag
both at the voting booths and through
direct action" with sticks, stones or
rifles.
BY the beginning of this year Mus
solini had organized 100000 young
men, all ready TO do his bidding.
In answer the political extremists
called a general strike. Mussolini de-
feated the strike by putting 100000
followers into the jobs the strikers had
quit.
This intensified the bitterness be-
tween the bolshevistic elements and
the Fascist. Open fighting broke out
At the kings request Mussolini this
summer demobilized his forces to aid
in restoring order. But he did not
"demobilize" his political power.
Youth Steps Into the Breach.
When premier after premier failed
to establish cabinet that could last,
Mussolini came forward and now will
try to stand where older and better
trained political leaders fell.
Mussolini is the son of an iron
worker. But he is versed in music, art
and literature and speaks several Ian
guagcs.
He has been n school teacher, editor,
writer of stories and a rowing laborer.
The name of his organization-Fas
cisti-comcs from the Latin word "fas-
ces,' bundle, which originally referred
to the bundles OF rods carried by the
old Roman lictors.
Mussolini'S advent to power is GER
tain to have a far-reaching effect on
Italy's international relations.
His first step probably will be abro-
cation of the treaties between Italy
and Jugoslavia, partitioning the Adri-