Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-25
EUROPEAN LABOR
REJECTS FASCIST
Delegates to Workers Farley
Walk Out When R0SS0ni
& Starts Speech.

GENEVA, July PA four year s
ficht on the part of the Itanln
Fascists to force the workers OF Eu-
rope to recognize them as the repre-
sentatiyes of Italian labor has Ialleu
again. and as a result Italy Is one
step nearer severing relations WITH
the International Labor Bureau ana
the League of Nations.
BY a unanimous vote, the WORKERS
delegates at the ninth conference OF
+he Labor Bureau, refused to admit
NJ. Rossoni, president of the Fascist
Workers Corporations, to their COM
n,ittees. despite determined crusade
bv all the employers and most OF the
Government delegates. The combined
employer government delegations
nanaged to obtain the acceptance OF
M. Rossonis credentials, thus enapllhs
him to participate in the conference
Rut the workers bloc remained nrm
and "Rossine," as a workers dele-
gate was a man without country.
The Italian government at re-
cent meeting of the directors poa1u
of TIC, labor office threatened 10 ap-
naaI TO the Hague Court to obtain
their ''rightS" from the conference
The threat had no effect on the work
ers' delegations who did whatever
negotiating they had to do with the
''unoficial representative" OF the Atal'
ian trades unions, which nave peeh
suppressed by the Fascist corpora
tions and MuSsolini.
MetamorphOsis Interesting STUDY
The metamorphosis of M. Ed
rnundo Rossoni, president OF the
FASCIST corporations is interesting.
II resembles that of his chief. NOT
MANY wears ago Mussolini was an
ittnerant worker in Switzerland, sort
of political refugee, with Soclalisl
ideas and revolutionary tendencies ne
was expelled from the SWISS CANON
of Tessin and then became the eoltoT
of a Socialist paper in Italy Discaru
ing Liberalism, after the BlacKsnlrt
march on Rome and his elevation TO
the dictatorship, he has since neeh an
almost ultra-conserVatlve.
Rossoni, 10 years ago, was nre-
brand in the Lawrence, Mass, teXtile
strike He was affiliated with the
American I. w. WIS and edited an
anarchistic newspaper in New YORK.
A. the beginning of the war he re-
trIrned to Italy, organized the tallan
workers along Syndicalist INES ana
became Mussolinfs rtght-hano man;
With a complete grip on the WORKERS
organizations of Italy, he Is a VaIu
hence any represive legislation that
is NEEDED to break up trade unionlsm
readily is obtained.
Rossoni appeared at carrier meet
ings of the labor Office in the ma
hiliarnents of the ordinary workers
delegates-that is, minus the spike
tall coat, silk hat, etc. He fesloeu
in the good middle class hotels. rms
year, however, accompanied by M.
de Michaelis, government delegate
and the employers delegate, he was
dorniciled in Geneva's most expensive
hotel, appeared in full dress at all
functions and sported a palatial motor
car. His Transformation from worker
to plutocrat was complete.
Delegates Desert Hall.
Rut Rossonis mental metamorpho-
sis had been even more striking. his
annearance on the tribune at the
conference always started a general
exodus and by the time he had falriy
started his speech the hall was
cleared of workers delegates. Then
followed the inevitable respects which
were paid to the representatives OF
organized labor wherever 1t is by the
Italian Fascists.
That the incident which occurred
at the recent conference will be pro-
ductive of important developments
on the part of the Italians is certain.
Already Mussolini has made repre-
sensations to the Swiss government
over the riots at Plain Palais, which
resulted when the italian Fascist
organization of Geneva tried to break
up a Socialist mass meeting held in
commemoration of the assassination
of Matteoti.
The federal council thus far has
refused to give assurances that anti
Fascist demonstrations would not
occur in Geneva or Switzerland,
whereupon Rome has served notice,
through her minister, Signor Gar
basso, that occurrences would oblige
Italy to refrain from sending ENJOYS
to either League of Nations or labor
office or other international confer
ences in Geneva in the future.
Duel Is Asked.
The second incident, a fist fight
and the resultant challenge to duel
as a result of a Frenchman character
izing Rossoni's speech as mac
caroni," is still unliquidated. Inas-
much as the Swiss do not counte-
nance dueling it is doubtful if it will
take place. And since Mussolini has
warned he would not tolerate the dis
rnisal of Italians at either labor Of
flee or the league secretariat because
of their defense of Fascism, it re.
mains to be seen whether the league
will submit to his dictates.
The judicial committee" of the
league has been celebrating on the
fate of three league Officials since
they returned after periods of con
valescence, necessitated by the drub
bling they received at the Matteoti
memorial. and Director Albert Thomas
of the labor office still is conducting
an inquiry But deliberations" and
inquiries" are about all that will
result.
Mussolini has the Indian sign or
the league at the moment.
After September it may be a diff