The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-11-16
Mussolini's Empire of Blackmail in y. S.

Mussolini's Empire Of Blackmail in y. s.
It hasn't relieved the cancerous presence OF fascism
in America very much for Bcnto Mussolni. Italian
dictator. to assure the United States that naturalized
Americans OF Italian birth are no longer to be impressed
into his military service in time Of peace If they visit
the old homeland The concession does not apply to
time of war. Nor does 1t abdicate the empire Of black
mail which Mussolini maintains in this country. accord
ing to a review Of Italian activities in the United States.
as revealed by Marcus Duffield in the November Harpcr's.
Mussoinis remuneration of arrest and impressment Of
naturalized Italian American citizens who had left Italy
before serving their term in the fascist army was in
response to demands from Washington in cases where
business men from this country, visiting their relatives.
had been imprisoned and made to enter the army in
order to obtain their release.
italy does not recognize citizenship as conferred BY
American naturalization. With Mussolini it is a case
Of once an Italian always an Italian. And the dictator
recently laid down the pronouncement that this dictum
extended to the seventh generation, SO that the descen-
dants OF parents born in Italy who had como here and
obtained citizenship would be liable for military duty in
the ancestral land unto the seventh generation, though
native born Americans. The United States could not.
Of course. tolerate such a mad assumption. Mussoini
may be dictator. tyrant and autocrat Of Italy, but he is
not dictator Of the United States.
Several years ago an investigation was made Of the
activities OF German societies in this country and there
was q loud outcry when it was discovered that the Teu-
tons maintained several beer clubs and some singing
societies in this land and were wont to make merry over
foaming mugs and in such songs as "n Lautcrbach hab
ich mein Strumpf verloren." That was not an infection
to grow alarmed over.
In the case of Mussolinis activities through fascist
bodies in this country 1t is a case, however, Of weaving
naturalized citizens of Italian birth from their new al
legiancc and establishing within this body polite what
virtually amounts to an empire controlled by the will OF
Massoini. Naturalized Italo- Americans who refuse to
orkrnulodro flo orp.borifv of Afucco1iyi oi,,,c tl,af IF
the United States are. according to the Dufficld expos
urc, cocrced into submission by business ruin and by
terrorizing their kin in the homeland.
Mussolini. for example, has no authority whatever 70
levy taxes on Americans. yet he does it by this sort of
terrorism. Dufficld says the bachelor tax Of Italy Is ono
way OF Matchmaking naturalizcd Italians who have come
here to escape the tyrannies practised on them i'll the
native land. When one fails to pay this bachelor tax.
his old mother, If there be one, or mayhap some other
kin left behind, are usually sought out for fascist tor
turc to force the payment from America. The tax is
assessed against the kin and is collected. In one case
the total of all the years a son had been in America
was 50 collected.
It has been found that fascism has been reaching
into schools and displacing teachers who refuse to unite
with the black shirts.
Attempts to assimilate Italians by Americanization arc
thwarted by this alien body operating within this coun-
try as though they controlled its sovereignty. There is
q patchwork Of contradictory VOWS to be taken by those
NlV uh0tE W4IAA CANC 0ONAo OAI 0SA0N 10
TO love. serve, obey and exalt the United States Of
America and to render obedience and respect to its con-
stitutton and its laws" but unfortunately this is en-
numbered by q prior vow ITO serve with fidelity and
discipline the fascist idea Of society based on religion. the
fatherland and the family and to respect the authority
Of the league and the hierarchy and the tradition Of
our race" The two are incompatible under the sardonic
rule Of Mussolini.
n in Italy q member turns away from the fascist
league, confkcation Of property. if he has any, and
revocation OF Italian citizenship are among the penal
ties. II he is an American and still holds property in
the old country. that can just as well be confiscated rs
were he stil in his native land. according to the Duf-
field exposures.
III Providence, It was found that children who arc
to grow up as Americans we're being taught fascism
and loyalty to Mussolini. Other children have been taken
to italy and sent to fascist camp schools to come back
here unmade Americans, acknowledging the supreme
authority Of the dictator. What kind Of American 81
citizc. . will they grow up to be? Is it too severe an
Interpretation to put on the activities Of Mussolini in
this country to term them . political cancer in the body
polite?
The Duffield article says the question Of citizenship
rights has projected itself even more sharply into the
situation created by the fascist policy of scizng Itao-
Americans travelling IN Italy. including naturalizcd
American citizens. and compelling them to serve train
Ing periods IL the Italian reserve army. This, again. is
Ia accord with Aussolinis idea that all Italians are hts
subjects ard that war material can and should be drawn
from America Is well Is from any other colony"
Instances are cited Of Italians going back on visits
10 the old country and falling to return to their new
home. America. Carl Ragno. Of Hoboken, for instance.
n thought he would be SAFE because he was q naturalized
Anaerican citizen. But he hasn't come back. signora de
onrmeln. another instance. She Was born here and.
thorefoee. y m American citizen. She and her husband
ri Aheen living IN Furnar4. italy. When shs made
rf1caxottons 70 retwn % this country last spring
80 49, refused pesnis1tonL She = . cousin 70 ~.
eHar1e Parma. : fosmsr Q. = army surgeon. who 4 m
ncottso anti-fascisk - = rsAched In revenge BY the
Virtual k~idnapine q bis woman relative.
= u1od - - Tint tn earllian Black Hand exacted
NcncnMail and tribute Al this country. Now 1t seems
r r - 1lack shirts Who have taken over that activity.
1Sue, Mussollni says II shall happen no more, but he