Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-27

Ordinarily, in constitutional monarch
les, the King dominates the prime min
lister, who selects his cabinet, which is
subject to support of Parliament. When
Parliament. defeats an important meas
ure of the cabinet, it is incumbent upon
that cabinet to resign, and then the
King selects a new man to form new
cabinet-the so-called government"
That was the method followed in Italy,
even when the 100000 Fascist marched
upon Rome in 1921, and demanded that
their leader, Benito MusSolini, be made
premier. At first, the King, Victor En-
manuel, tried to compromise, and Of
fered to name MuSSolini for the head
of the Government" provided he
would make up a coalition cabinet with
representatives of the several parties.
That compromise was refused, and
finally Mussolini was given power to
make his own selections. The Fascist
gained complete control, and it has
been asserted that King Victor En-
manuel III. now supports the MusSolini
government and approves of the Fas-
cisti policies throughout. He we'll may
seek at least to MAINTAIN that appear
ance, lest his very throne be swept
away by the dictator Of all Kings III
the world, that one which remains the
Italian figurehead retains the least ini-
tiative influence in his own country.
Mussolini is absolute dictator. He has
been guided by an etXraconstitutional
council" not recognized by law.
X X X X
Within the last few days, the Fascist
have taken steps to perpetuate their
power, as part of the constitutional gov
eminent, so that the King will be de-
prived entirely of the right to name his
premier; all royal power will be nullified.
Heretofore the council has had no le-
gal status, but now the dictator will
name and appoint members Of the
council, and the council, in turn, will
fill the vacancy when the premier die
tator dies. That is a revolution without
battle! This constitutional amend
ment so providing will be presented to
Parliament within a few days, and
Parliament is but rubber stamp"
There are no members in Parliament
except such as have been put there by
MuSsolini; they must obey his mandates
The revolution has been matter
Of evolution, the Fascist gradually
absorbing all rights and all power. They
abolished the right of any political
party to exist in Italy, except Fascismo.
They abolished municipal government
elective by the people, and so mayors
Of all cities are appointed by the GEN.
trail power of the Fascist They abol-
ished freedom of the press and free
dom of speech. They instituted a sys-
tenn of spies called the 'cheka," so that
no person of however humble station
can whisper word of opposition
against MuSsolini or the Fascist gov
eminent without being reported and
being prosecuted and assaulted "in
STYLE" with weapons such as flexible
club. and beaten into submission. The
cheka system is as terrible as the
cossacks of Russia, as omnipresent and
relentless as the church spies Of the
Inquisition.
The sentences for such "cruel and
unusual punishment" (made uncon-
stitutional in America) are issued even
by the generalissimo of the militia, Gen.
1talo Balbo according to publication
in italian newspapers prior to the COM
plete abolition of the freedom of the
press in 1924. The letter so ordering
punishment is quoted from the italian
newspapers in pamphlet issued in
New York entitled THE Fascist Die
tatorship." by the International Com