The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-07-24
Fighting Priest Aids
 Government StQbiZizdtio7a

in the face of the fight that organ
 ized labor is making?"
 I've have our own syndicates of
 labor," he replied, which are par ticu1arly strong in the country But not as strong as the Socialist syndicates," I said.
 l To this he only answered that he believes ''the syndicates have a valu-
 able mission in solving the economic conditions of any country They
 bring about the balance between the
 laws of capitalism and the needs of
 the workman. They provide the progress to industry"
 And he added, 'I do not fear the red syndicates, because we have our
 own organizations of workers" And what about the Fascist syn dicates? You must surely reckon with | them if your party does anything
 that the Fascist do not agree with ?'' Plays Fascisti- "For the moment" said Don Sur 70 ''the Fascist cannot be said to have a character of economic spirit
 They have rather the character of youthful spirit They are the defend CTS of capitalism, and at the same organize the proletariat. One cannot defend capitalism and the proletariat at the same time"
 The land programme of the Popo- lare Party plans to increase agricul-
 tura1 production; to transform meth ods of production, and to take over the land from large holders. The first two plans will be accom- plished, so everyone agrees, through electrfication of the country, which is without fuel, but has tremendous Wa ter-power. At the same time this electrical development will transform industrial production. I have been told by an expert American investi- gator that Italy is no longer able to compete with the superior methods
 of production and distribution of the California fruit growers. Change in Land Laws. The redivision of land now in the
 hands of large owners, particularly in Southern Italy, has long been the | dream of Southern political leaders. And Don Sturzo is a Sicilian. A bill is before the Italian Parliament now
 that provides for many changes in
 the present land laws, including the
 gradual taking over of land from
 large holders. This land will be re-
 distributed among colonies of work CTS to cooperative organizations or
 to banks, for which payment will be made half in capital and half in bonds. The bill also provides for between owners and tenants, so that long terms of contract will be sign ed, thereby encouraging developments that require years to accomplish. Don Sturzo declared that this pro
 gramme does not in any way intend to turn the property over to the peas ants as Soviet Russia. did we will
 develop the land and permit groups of workers to manage it at the same time, so that no one will be given land and no tools."
 And what about the question of
 suffrage for women in 1taly?" asked
 him.
 Our program includes suffrage for
 wtornen.'
 "Yes, but you have sufficient votes,
 together with the Socialists, whose in n | carry a measure. Then why do you
 not introduce it?''
 Would Let Women Vote. Every soon, now that we have fin tshed the Conference at Genoa and settled down to work again, We shall | introduce a new bil1.''
 And will it be passed at once?" Don Sturzo smiled. f1t will be passed before this Legislature falls,'' he answered.
 But that might not be for years,'' ansWered-a rather optimistic re-
 mark to make about an Italian Legis | lature.
 The mere matter of three Or four more years seemed altogether unim- portant to Don Sturzo so far as wo-
 man suffrage is concerned. He re- piled. as every politician in America | and in England used to reply. This is not the time" he said, 'tto disturb our natonal affairs. We must wait little, because when Italy gives the vote to women it will mean the fall of the present Parliament and the calling of a new election, so that the new voters will be represented" You did not hesitate to bring on the fall of the Government when uni versal suffrage was granted to your msn," I reminded him.
 Don Sturzo again smiled to him self. He dismissed me with a cordial handshake and, still smiling said: l "Yes, they will surely have the vote during this session of the Legisla-
 ture-some time"