Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-05

Italy's remarkable national election.
in which unopposed Fascist candidates
received about SO per cent of the
votes cast. impresses all American OBJ
servers as conclusive evidence of MuSSo-
lini'S amazing and complete power, al
though there are differences of opinion
as to the underlying causes and prob
able results of such a state Of affairs.
THE electors cast ballots yes or mo-
on the candidates presented" the New
York Sun explains. Practically 80 per
cent of the qualified electorate went to
the polls. OF them, 8,506,576 voted yes
and 1858 no. The clergy participant
ed in the election in manner regarded
as remarkable The royal family was
conspicuous at the polls. These facts
will be read by the Fascist as con-
vincing testimony to the popularity of
| the MusSolini regime, an Endorsement Of
| II Duce and the methods by which he
| has remade Italy. That Endorsement is
worth having at home and abroad"
"a great constructive autocrat has
risen to serve post-bellum Italy," de-
| clares the Cincinnati TimesStar. 1.-THE
| chaotic Italy of 1920 has become the
! co-ordinating, efficient Italy of today.
| The revolution has been accomplished
with minimum of violence. The blood
| of classes is not upon MuSsolini'S hands.
| That the form of government is not in
| consonarce with American principles
| must not cause us to judge harshly.
| The genius of politics varies with lati-
tude and longitude, and, above all, with
| traditions"
( 1.-THE italian leader not only leads
the people, but makes them like it," as
| serts the Muncie Star, with the expla-
nation that 1.-The ticket was not only
hand-picked, but nobody was permitted
| to run in opposition. Then with great
hurrah the people rushed to the polls
, to express the wish of those who were
! pulling the political strings" concludes
The Star.
| "After all, it is not totally undemo-
cratic" comedies the Chicago Daily
News, pointing out that among the
! members of the new Parliament are
many distinguished persons scholars
| industrialists, labor leaders, professional
men," and adding: "It may develop
considerable independence. In time il
| may modify Fascism in a variety OF
ways without repudiating it openly
There is evolution in every form OF
government, and Fascism Is no excep-
ton to the rule"
1T remains one of the picturesque
wonders of modern history" according
to the Hartford Times, "hoW the Italian
| people continue to rally to the standards
! of the strenuous rule of the knight
Grant of the black shirt. The more
unceremoniously he reduces the degree
of constitutional government and popu-
lar participation in the affairs of the
| state, the better the populace seems to
like it. Nor will it do TO say that much
of this submissiveness on the part OF
the Italian people is actuated by fear
for their loyalty too plainly partakes OF
voluntary enthusiasm for the man who
is establishing order and efficiency anc
is giving his country an enlarged place
in the SUM-"
HE is a world figure" says the
Nashville Banner, land is fast building
Italy into power that must be re-
spected. His ideals are vast and COM
ipelling. He reveres memories of his
country's glorious past and is doing
much to restore that past
The Seattle Daily Times pays the
tribute: His countrymen recognize
the fact that he has worked an almost
miraculous change in his country. He
| has rehabilitated industry and saved ii
from economic ruin. Returned travel
ers report that the cities are clean and
modern and that all, the people are
working Even the beggars have dis
appeared Instead of importing most
of its necessa-ies, Italy produces the
bulk of its wheat and has developed
enormous hydro-electric energy to re-
place coal formerly purchased abroad
! Mussoiini may be dictator, but he il
benign ruler and is inspired by the
highest patriotism. "
~, *k 4
A less favorable view is held by the
Duluth Herald: lone reason this one
man show is popular is that it is work
ing so far, and getting good results. II
4 is of course, at the same time destroy
Il ing every vestige of self-government
democracy and everything Of the sort
And. of course, no material gains
whatever are worth that awful cost
THE bin for it will be paid later. and
Il will be heavy" The Springfield (Illi
State Register remarks that the Fas-
4 cists were in complete control and hac
perfest check on the voting. which