The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-04-14
fascist SEIZE
SHIPS OWNED BY
ITALIAN SEAMEN
Big "GaribaIdi" Line Is
Taken By Force
fspeolaI % The palIv -Workerl

ciety "Garibaldi', owned by the Ital-
ian Seamen's Federation, is held now
by the Fascist, who have seized it
by order and on behalf of the Italian
ship-owners.
Mussolini's recent decree endow-
ing the Projects of the fifty-two Ital-
ian provinces with arbitrary powers
ito interfere with the private bust
ness examine the account books, seize
the funds and premises of Trade-un-
ions, Cooperative societies and
other workers organizations Of
any kind and description" was
specially schemed to give the
Fascist Government the legal in
strument with which the "Garibaldi'
Cooperative Society was to be
snatched from the seamen's owner
ship and placed under the manage
ment and control of a government
commissioner.
shp-owners Feared Cooperation.
The Shipping Cooperative Society
"Garibaldi", established in 1919,
brought fear to the Italian ship-own-
ers. during the past two years, by
cause of its astonishingly rapid
growth. It's financial solidity rested
upon the enthusiasm Of $4,000 stall
wart members who poured, every
year, millions of Lire into its treas
ury, in affiliation fees and other con-
tributions, this causing, in the term
of four years, an increase of capital
for 60,0O0,000 Lire. This CAPT
tai, was bound to increase into ire
mendous financial force in the hands
Of the Italian Seamen's Federations.
The Italian ship-owners' attack
failed. The Cooperative had never
more than one of its five big cargo
ships standing idle in a port or dock
not even during the most acute per-
iod of the shipping industry crisis
for, the crews being the owners of
the ships, were always ready to put
their energy and spirit of sacrifice
into the fight against the millionaire
ship-owners.
The capitalists resorted to politi-
cal intrigue, and managed to have
the support of Parliament on their
side and against the seamen. In the
term of two years the "Garibaldf
was subjected to investigation by
three parliamentary inquiry-commit-
tees, but their findings proved to be
against the ship owners and the
'Garibaldi" had it's ships restored and
received, in addition, reparations for
financial damages.
Fascism-Bosses' Opportunity.
The coming of the Fascist into
power overturned the whole situa-
ton in favor of Labor's enemies.
The Seamen's Federation and the Co
operative "Garibaldi' faced the di-
lemma: either be affiliated to the
Fascist Corporations or be smashed.
In order to evade this dilemma Cap
tain Giulietti, secretary of the sea-
mems Federation and President of
the Cooperative "Garibaldi' put him
self and his two organizations under
the patronage of D'Annunzio.
The ship-owner resolved to detach
D'Annunzio from Giuletti, and, at the
same time, bring pressure to bear
upon Mussolini thru the "Banca Com
merciale" on account of the latters
controlling power over Italian Indus
try, Economy and Finance.
Under this pressure Mussolini gave
blanket power to the ship owners
plan to take by violence the Genoa
headquarters of the Seamen's Fedora
ton and Cooperative "Garibaldi".
Gangsters Seize Union Office.
On the End of January last, some
500 hooligans hired and armed
by the ship owners, took pos
session of the Seamens Federation
headquarters at Genoa, and proclaim
ed themselves the owners of the
Federation and Cooperative. Most
fortunately, the funds Of the Fedora
ton amounting to 100000 Lire,
were not found by the assail-
ants. D'Annunzio sent to Musso-
lini a message of protest, but the
day after he seemed to take a more
tranquil attitude, and. after a week
ers. But Giulietti would not give up
the fight. Thinking that they could
also bribe him, the ship owners Of
fered him unofficially 100000
lire, provided he accepted to
withdraw. In response to this, Gu
liuetti published later a roll of 20,-
900 signatures from seamen
and members Of the "Garibaldp
who pledged themselves to back him
in the fight against the ship owners.
In this plebiscite joined the crews OF
all the biggest Italian liners, from the
undertook hands to the captains.
This attack against the Co-opera-
tive "Garibaldi" was taken just when
the government is about to auction
the State-navigation subsidized lines,
and when It was known that the
"Garibaldi" was prepared to partici-
nate In Al. o..rlt-a. s..ttI. ~. .ff~~