The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-03-19


italian Socialists immigrated to Losanna (Switzer-
land)
AT that time he a young man of % or %
years of age and drew my attention for his aspect
of extreme poverty and epenury.
Even then he had an uneasy agitated appearance
like who suffers of some hereditary disease.
thought to myself "This one is some poor
prosecuted proetarian who may be in need of
soothing word" and asked him who he and
whence he came
Mussolini told me that he had fled from Italy
because he did not want to in the army. He
in grave pecuniary need and lived mainly
by aid offered him by the masons and diggers of
Losanna.
One Of these then told me that his wife
had given him some old underwear 1t was in this
manner that these Italian immigrants many of whom
were poor occasional workers, aided refugee who
had Studied for school teacher but had not had the
capacity to continue at this profession.
Mussolini is the son of poor worker, black
smith who lived in Piedappio, near Foil, in Ro-
MAMA. His father socialist and member of
the First International. Mussolni therefore was
brought up in a socialist environment.
The peasants of his village belonged to the party
and Mussoini being man of the sort that adapts
himself easily to the ideas of those who surround
him, he also became member of the party.
In my first conversation with him he told
that he had strong desire to translate "On the
Morrow of the Social Revolution" by Kautsly, be-
he would have been able to thereby about
so francs. / offered to help him and when | re-
turned to Losanna made great part of The trans
lation for him because at that time he knew very
little German. He had regular trade he read
lot and particularly French authors like Blanguin
and he thus filled his brains with the thoughts of
French writers. He had always been a man of
strong adaptability of thought and he possessed
besides that faculty of assimilation common to
so many Italians nervous system OF an abnormal
impressionabty.
Until 1900 we published in Losanna a socialist
paper which still exists called al avenure del La
voratore," (The Workers Future) to which I coll
Elaborated from time to time. Mussoini began to
contribute articles to this paper many of which were
anti-clerical and ant-militaristic subjects.
His anti-clericahsm was Of very primitive type.
He gave scientific Interpretation of religious
problems, but he attacked the church an insti-
tuition. At this time he also published pamphlet
in which he attempted to prove the nonexstence of
god. 1t is of the many ironies of history that
this pamphlet is now forbidden in Italy by order
of the Prime Minister Signor Mussolini.
few years later think in 1909 or 1910, Mus
solini was arrested and returned to Italy where he
become the director of of the two hundred
socialist weekly reviews and especially the one
called 1.-THE Glass Struggle"
At that time he often invited me to speak where
he and l remember having spoken in
Forli on the Paris Commune.
II was lively meeting. The bourgeoisie of that
locality all republicans and the peasants all
socialists, so the camp divided into two oppos-
ing parties. The republicans attempted to disturb
speech Win q Downing matcn IN VINE ShOp close
to the place where TO speak. Mussolin was
terribly agtated I was not disturbed and spoke
nevertheless But when / had finished MussoIini
informed me, trembling with emotion that quarrel
had taken place and that socialist had stabbed
a republican.
remember well that Mussoni's agitation
due not much to the sentiment of responsibility
for this unfortunate accident to the fear of
unpleasant probable consequences for himself. When
the meeting was over went in cab towards the
station. Mussolini insisted desperately on having
carabineers escort and protect u.s. So part of the
latter preceded in cab and others marched be-
side us. We scarcely had moved when detonation
was heard They had shot at us but they struck the
first vehicle full of carabneers Mussolini
seized by deadly terror and pitifully implored me
not to leave the town. He did not have the heart
to remain alone. No one knew what could have
happened. told him that couldn't remain because
the morrow, being the first Of May, was
gagged to speak elsewhere. But Mussoni continued
to disavow me until we reached the station plat
form and I finally left him after which our COM