The Wilmington morning star., 1943-12-19
BY WEsTBROOK PEGLER

NEW 4ORk.--DO you know what Ghibonne
is?
ran across the word today in a hitherto
unopened biography of Fiorello LaGuardia
written by Lowell Limpus and BURY Leyson
and published by E. p. Dutton in 1885, AL
though the authors disrlalm any intention to
present an appraisal of LaGuar dias charac-
ter, it is my opinion that they eulogized him
and that, in relation to the Ghibonnes, they
present him as a Mussolini.
But that is my conclusion You may roll
your own.
Discussing LaGuardia's 1924 campaign for
Congress, Limpus and Leyson wrote:
"As the campaign proceeded and the fight
became more bitter. LaGusrda prospects
waned Competent observers were Of the opin-
ion that Frank (his opponent would probably
win another Tammany victory. And then the
ghibonnes came into being
There is footnote explaining that ghibonne
is an Italian word, difficult of translation,
but approximating the English word ''swash-
buckler'' which means staggering braggart.
Composed of young Italian Americans" the
footnote says, they modified around LaGuar-
dia and were true to him ever after. This
organization of which most New Workers new
err heard, was a secret fraternity, the men,
bers of which took an oath of personal al
legiance to Mayor LaGuardia. Ever since the
1924 campaign they have formed the back
bone of the well-oiled political machine that
has kept him in office "
''In the ensuing years. the main text con-
tinues, ''the ghibonnes were TO increase until
they had 1900 members on their rolls-1800
idealistic hero-Worshippers led by the brilliant
Vito Marcantonio. They were all young men
and all Italians, all nladly devoted to La
Guardia. They gathered from the tenements
of Little Italy to do battle for their idol, and
each of them took secret oath of allegiance,
promising to follow his lead unswervngly,
and to support him without reservation. This
secret fraternity, unknown except in Harlem,
was composed of cross-section of Italian
American life. 1t included young lawyers,
professional men, World War veterans and
youngsters just out of college. They were cru
saders and they followed their leader blindly.
The ghbonnes proved a mighty asset. They
were the vanguard Of a youth movement
which swept the district. Bands of girls took
possession of the street corners, singing La
Guarda songs to the accompaniment of gui-
tar, mandolin and ukelele.''
This it should be observed, was only two
years after Benito MusscIini had come to
power in Italy, aided by bands called. not
ghibonnes, but fascists, madly devoted to their
leader, or duce sworn without reservation
to answering, personal loyalty and organized,
as Limpus and Leyson say Of the ghibonnes,
ito do battle for their idol" Mussolini also
had youth movement which swept not a
mere political district but all Italy.
AS the authors say, most New Workers never
heard of the ghibonnes and. if tteir existence
and their nature had been generally known,
LaGuardia would not have had the support
of many genuine Americans who did give him
political help under the impression that he
was, however arrogant, petulant and spectacu-
lar, an honest, progressive reformer. Certainly
the New York World-Telegram, which first
presented him as a cure for the iniquities
OF Tammany, would not have given editorial
approval of q candidate backed by band
pledged by secret oath to the answering sup
port OF a leader and I doubt that Joseph
Medill Patterson would have done so, although
Patterson went through some very silly phases
during his long crush on Roosevelt and the
Little Flower whom he affectonately called
Butch. If Limpus and Leyson are correct
about the ghibonnes then all the newspapers
OF New York are guilty Of great negligence
In not finding out about them and revealing
fascist organization masquerading as pro-
gressive reform, as fascism did in Italy. Very
odd, too, is the fact that Limpus, West
Pointer, is reporter for Patterson and was
SO employed in 1888 wnen the book came
out and the Patterson LaGuardia political
friendship was still very warm.
have never seen any reputation by La
Guardia of this or any other portion of the
eulogy. .
The book is called This Man LaGuardia.
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