The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-01-08
ITALY FACES TERROR REIGN AS MUSSOLINI Rights
Leader Is Doomed Despite.
Appearance Of Victory
Simms. Says.
BY WILLIAM PHILIP s1MMs

e ESPITE today's appearance Of
iH victory the sway Of Benito
Mussoiini, Fascist leader and
Premier Of Italy, is doomed.
| No ruler can hold on to power
forever, once it becomes necessary
flor MIN to put newspapers TO the
torch, gag free speech and call out
his personal bodyguard to beat down
his political opponents.
f Which was the way the Fascist
saved their bacon in the present
lcrisis. Calm has been restored in
Italy but temporary, rest assured,
land before she gets back to normal
/ the probabilities are that she will
pass through a reign Of terror sur
passing anything yet suffered.
The trouble with Mussolini is that
he started by doing a good thing in
a wrong way.
Three years ago Italy was virtu-
kally in revolution. Communists were
in control in many districts and daily
grodwing holder. Business was at
a standstill. Unemployment was ma
tion-wide Excuses were being COM
mitted on every hand and life itself
was not safe Yet doddering dodo
sort Of government sat in Rome, UNI
able to do a thing.
Becomes Dictator
| Mussolini came to the rescue. He
marched on Rome, followed by his
husky -Blackshirts mostly ex-
service men-ousted the inpotents
and set himself up as dictator. He
got King Ennmanuel's signature,
I put that monarch on the top shelf
like a broken puppet, abolished par
lament, cracked his whip over Isaly
and cried, Lets goH'
That was a little over two years
ago. At first people liked it. In
the vernacular, they late 1t up"
Business hummed Men found jobs.
The wheels of government turned.
Clerks actually worked. Expenses
were cut down and income increased
Then abuses of power began to
appear. The Fascist, feeling them
selves absolute bosses OF the land,
began. to play the bully and tyrant.
When any one dared criticise, they
were beaten, sent into exile and
sometimes killed.
Which naturally produced more
criticism and opposition. The Lib
eral party, depleted by the rise of
Fascismo, began to show signs OF
life. Many of Mussolini's most ar
dent followers went over to it and
as opposition grew Fascist excesses
became more general Newspapers
that criticised Mussolini were
mobbed, sacked or put. to the torch.
Clashes occurred in the streets;
there were riots, cracked skulls and
murders.
Demand Constitution
At Leghorn in october, some 3d.
600 Liberals met and issued q call to
the country. Italy. they sat5, should
come before party, and force should
not be used TO settle political differ
ences. They demanded a return to
constitutional government, which
Mussolini had strapped, and de-
clared the army belonged to the ma
ton, not to any party or man-as
| the sBlackshirts's belonged to the
Fascist and Mussolini.
More violent riots came on ARMS
tice day in many cities; more vio-
| Ience everywhere. Some $50 depu-
/ ties refused to sit in Parliament be-
cause Deputy Matteottf, one of their
number, had been killed by Fascist
sympathizers, and two Liberal mem
bers Of the cabinet were asking for
reforms s.
In short, a .torrn was brewing
and the premier's grip on Italy was
slipping. He saw 1t and realized
the crisis.of his career had come. He
would have to do one of two things:
Turn loose or tighten his hold
Which last is what he has just
done. The country is virtually UNI
der martial law, with all Liberals
ousted from the Cabinet and Musso-
| lini still in the saddle, for the mos
ment, .firmer than ever.
At. the same time, Mussolinis OPP.
ponents, headed by Gen. Peppini
Garibaldi, grandson Of the great pa
triot; Giolitti. Orlando, Salandra,
Nitti. Casati. Sarrocchi and others,
are girding Tor battle.
How long Mussolini can hold on
depends upon the lengths to which
he is willing to go. And his record
strongly hints Of extremes. He Is
without fear and is no weakling..
Whatever his ambitions are. and he
is extremely ambitious, he will try
to achieve them.
The pity is Mussolini cant clean
house In his own party and make
young Italy's dream Of a new savior
come true. In many ways he lis q