Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-11-11
BY EDWARD CORSI.

w YHAT in practical way has
n Fascism meant to the peo-
wv pie of Italy? In other words,
has the country benefited
by six years of Fascist rule?
The answer is yes. Everywhere in Italy
had people say to me that on the
whole the change has been for the bet
ter. 1t has been a change from chaos
and anarchy to law and order. To be
sure, there is no prosperity in Italy On
the contrary, the present situation, par
tlcularly in industry, is difficult, to say
the least. Taxation has increased the
cost Of food, clothing and housing has
gone up, there is depression and unem-
ployment. But the country is orderly
and alive, wages and standards of liv-
Ing are higher, education is widespread,
the health of the masses is amply pro-
tected. the outlook is promising
Politically FasciSm is open to serious
criticism. Judged by our own demo-
cratic standards it is impossible. But
socially and economically. as an instru-
n1ent of administration and protection
it is highly efficient. It gets things
done, and that is important in Italy. 1t
has the courage to face problems even
when they seem most difficult. It breeds
confidence and enterprise FasciSm is
government by a push of the button as
opposed to government by parliamentary
chatter, Wire-pulling and bureaucratic
red tape. From practical standpoint,
the Fascist has done more during the
past six years than was done in any
other similar period in Italian history.
There can be no doubt about that. The
record speaks for itself.
Worked Miracles in Public Works.
We need not discuss here such
achievements as the balancing of the
budget, the settlement of the war debts,
the sterilization of the lira, the reduc-
ton of public expenditures, the reform
of the bureaucracy and the public serv-
ices and the restoration of public conf
dence IN the government and the coun-
try AS part of the tremendous problem
of national reconstruction which faced
FasciSm when it came into power, they
are well known. Let us consider, in
stead, some of the reforms which come
closer to the life of the people and are
equally important.
There is first of all the matter of
public works In this field Fascism
has worked miracles. It has COM
pletely transformed the physiognonny of
the country, particularly in the neglect
ed South. Roads, bridges, canals, wa
terwayS, ports, homes for workers,
schools and hospitals have been built
everywhere at a total cost of 8,000,-
100000 lire, which is staggering sum
for a relatively poor country.
Land Is Reclaimed.
Land has been reclaimed to the ex-
tent Of $4,000 hectares, while another
million hectares are in process of
reclamation; the production of water
power, which means light and heat for
the masses, and white coal' for in
dustry. has increased from 1000, 900, 900
kilowatt hours in 1922 to 8.000,000,000
kilowatt hours in 1927; homes for
workers have been constructed in all
the large centers, particularly IN Reggie
Calabria and MeSSina. where people
were still living in barracks built after
the famous earthquake of 1904; the
railways have been extended and mod
ernized; the postal and telegraph serv-
ices have been reorgariZed; the mer-
chant marine has grown from tonnage
of 100000 to $4,000, 600; roads have
been built at cost Of 300,000,000 lire
in Sicily and Caiabria alone, two of
the most abandoned provinces in Italy;
new schools, hospitals. railway stations,
power plants and government buildings
are to be seen IN all parts OF the
peninsula.
That this vast program has been of
incalculable benefit to the people there
is no doubt. It is one of the main
reasons why the country Is so sympa-
tfetic to FasciSn. But along with this
program there has been an intense
activity in the fields of health, educa-
ton and labor legislation. The cam
paign against malaria, tuberculosis,
typhoid, trachoma, infant mortality,
alcoholism and public immortality has
greatly reduced the death rate. More
than 100000 lire have been set aside
in an effort to destroy tuberculosis,
while the war on malaria, which is
financed in part with American money,
has assumed the proportions of ma
tional crusade.
In education this is the first time
that q serious effort is being made to
enforce the compulsory school law. The
Gentle reform, in spite of its many
faults, has put the schools of Italy on
basis of discipline and efficiency.
Teaching standards have been raised
and the morale of the students has
been strengthened. Illiteracy, long the