Actually they were the progressives of the day. Liberals are a more up to date descriptor. Fascism is a left wing ideology, always has been and always will be. Mussolini was much loved by American progressives and even Roosevelt modeled many of the New deal programs after Fascist programs and policies. A great book that explains it very well is "Three New Deals : Reflections on Roosevelt's America, Mussolini's Italy and Hitler's Germany, 1933 - 1939". An excellent book from a progressive author and scholar.