New Britain herald., 1928-08-17
SEVEN nations IN
government Tests
NsY Ideas IN Constitutions Be-
inS Tried Out

snain will take Its place IN 'he
lenrthening list OF nations who are
trying out a new idea in government.
Germany, Jugoslavia. Poland
Soviet Russia, Austria and Italy are
the other experimenters., These ma
tions have converted themselves into
social testing laboratories.
If their experiments prove out the
new wrinkle In reform may spread
around the world like republican
government spread after the crea-
ton Of the United States OF America
"Occupational representation can
best be understood" says a bulletin
from the Washington. D. c. head
quarters OF the National Geographic
society, "by imagining our own
American government remade to fit
1t. Members OF the senate, for ex-
ample. would not be elected two
from each state. They would be
sent to congress by various organi-
zations; one senator from the
American Medical association: one
senator from the Manufacturers as
ISOLATION; one senator from the Big
Four Railroad Brotherhoods; one
senator from the National Educa-
ton association; one senator from
the Women's clubs. etc. All Ameri-
cans Of voting age would be CLASH
fed by their occupations. and
through the occupational organiza-
tions they would select national rep
resentatives.
Like 70 many things under the
sun the idea is not new. The three
estates' Of feudal government were
roughly occupational: nobility. clergy
and the commoners.
German Occupational Council
But the modern phase begins
with Article l65 OF the postwar
German republican constitution and
with the Russian Soviet develop
ment. Article lG5 provides for
workers councils in all the factories
and Z national economic council
The latter 10 to be composed as fol-
lows:
50 representatives Of agriculture
and forestry.
80 Representatives Of general In
dustry.
~ representatives Of commerce
and banking.
So representatives. Of small bust
ness (handicraft).
- representatives Of transport
serviceA
8 representatives Of markets and
dsheriex
80 representatives Of consumers
(cities. consumbers associations and
women's organizations).
10 representatives of civil service
and professions.
- representatives named by gov
eminent.
"Of the IS representatives Of gen.
eral industry halt are labor men and
half employers Thus the Potash
Syndicate. In this group. has two
representatives, one for capital and
one for labor.
Germany has proceeded cautious
~. Tho Economic Council to date
has been given advisory powers only
and 1t cannot be said to have per-
formed, rs yet. any great deeds.
Marked in Central Europe
Each Austrian province has been
instructed to organize Z workers
chamber consisting Of manual work.
ers and clerical employees in industry
and manual workers and clerical
employees In public service. Poland,
Yugoslavia. and even the Free City
Of Danxig. on the other hand have
endeavored to include occupational
features in their central govern
ment.
"A soviet 10 itself an occupational
group like = farmers grange or a
workers council, 80 1t Is natural to
hnd the soviet government develop
ing the new idea most vigorously.
Yet their contribution to the tests
carries less weight because capital
has no rights to speak OF and one
city labcrer is placed on equality
with five farmers by the present
soviet system OF voting.
Newspapers recently carried
Mussolini's announcements con-
demning parliamentary government
and banishing it from Fascist Italy.
What has he placed in its stead:
"Occupational representation for
one thing. The italian government
since the fascist revolution has been
In 4 state OF flux. but at the present
time Its constitution and practice are
definitely occupational. Three groups
were first proposed: capital, labor.
and the professions. Professional
men and their organizations. have.
however. been incorporated with the
labor group.
workers and voters in Italy to-
day belong to one OF 13 contedera-
tions:
Employers organizations:
National Fascist Confederation OF
Industry.
National Fascist Confederation of
Agriculture.
National Fascist Confederation OF
Merchants.
National Fascist Confederation OF
Maritime and Aerial Transport.
National Fascist Confederation of
Land Transport and Inland Naviga-
ton.
National Fascist Confederation of
Bankers.
Labor organizations:
National Federation OF FASCIST
Syndicates in Industry.
national Federation of Fascist
Syndicates in Agriculture
National Federation OF Fascist
Syndicates in Commerce.
National Federation of Fascist
Syndicates in Maritime and Aerial
Transport.
National Federation of Fascist
in Land TRANSPORT and
Inland Navigation.
National Federation nc y-aecie%