Thoughtfully curated historical journalism
Turin, Italy.—Employers in this vicinity object to Mussolini’s rule that they must apply to the Fascisti labor bureaus when seeking workers.
Mussolini orders that members of the Fascist party and Fascist unions be given preference in employment. This rule is intended to drive workers into the Fascist unions.
A. F. of L. Head Calls on Workers to Actively Fight Fascism as Menace to Democracy and Organized Labor.
Washington, D. C. (ILNS)—Fascist activity in local unions of the dressmaking industry in New York city was scored by President William Green, of the American Federation of Labor, in vigorously denouncing Fascist propaganda in the trade union movement.
“The American Federation of Labor,” Mr. Green said, “regards Fascism and the Fascist philosophy as equally menacing and dangerous to the maintenance of democracy and democratic institutions as communism. Both Fascism and communism rest upon the basis of dictatorship. For this reason the American Federation of Labor is concerned over the activities of Fascist representatives in New York and elsewhere.
The progress of Fascismo toward a veritable religion was illustrated some months ago when Mussolini wrote in the preface of the published resolutions of the Grand Council of Facismo that this is “the book of our faith;” the “infallible compass of their every activity.” Facismo, he declares, “has buried forever” the old liberal democratic regime and erected the glorious edifice of Facismo in its stead.
The fasces of the lictor, the party symbol of the Fascisti, has been placed on the national flag beside the royal arms, as it has for months stood over government buildings. So sacred is Facismo that an Italian who speaks disrespectfully of it even in a foreign country is liable to severe punishment if he falls into the clutches of the supporters of Mussolini. Some weeks ago an Italian who had spoken against Fascism in America was, on returning to Italy, sentenced to twelve years and a half imprisonment, with three years special police supervision afterwards.
The autocracy of Mussolini moves along unimpeded on the enthusiastic support of the Italian masses. The women, who were given the vote in municipal elections some months ago, find the right amounting to nothing, as the local governments for which they were to vote are now appointed by Mussolini.
The abolition of popular elections has raised the question of providing properly trained administrators for the dictatorship. Fascist intellectuals propose a special training school for a governmental aristocracy, to which youths shall be sent who have been adjudged by the Duce from among candidates-suggested by the officers of the Fascist militia to be of proper character to exercise authority as he may see fit to permit to others besides himself. By this method of “investure from above” it is hoped to make eternal the blessing of a people’s forgetting to govern itself. These future masters of the state are to be instructed in “the analysis of political phenomena, the science of organization, and Roman and Italian history with special attention to the dictatorial periods,” and are to be tried in minor administrative posts.
WASHINGTON, (JTA)—American Nazi, Fascist and anti-Semitic organizations are engaged in a form of racketeering as well as in subversive activities, the Dies Committee found in a preliminary report of its investigations. The primary aims of the Nazi-Fascist organizations, the committee said, are: (1) a radical change in the American form of Government, and (2) collection of dues from such misguided citizens as will support them.
Warning “all our citizens against aping the methods of foreign dictators,” the committee said: “In these times when democracy is harrassed from many sides, peewee Hitlers have arisen in our midst urging our people, through an unprecedented volume of propagandistic literature, to resort to force and violence against large sections of our population.” The Nazi leaders were characterized as “aspiring Fuehrers” and “would-be Caesars.”
COOLIDGE PERMITS IT!
How Our Men And Women Are Insulted In the Government’s Departments—Will the Self and Race-Respecting Negro Press of This Country Continue to Stand for This Sort of Thing?
(Special to The Gazette.)
Washington, D. C., Oct. 4, 1924.—There is more segregation in Washington today under President Coolidge than there has ever been since the Civil War. The beginnings of segregation were under President Taft. It was greatly extended, under President Wilson; increased, still further, under President Harding; and reached its zenith under President Coolidge. For instance, the largest of our parks President Wilson never troubled, but the present administration has found time and desire to introduce it even there.
To many people, segregation is a Democratic scheme of insult, but such is not the case. Mr. Taft introduced it in the bureau of engraving. He segregated the census-takers in this city in 1910, restricting white workers to white people, and black to black, often duplicating work as most blocks had white and black residents. And, worst of all, announced in his official capacity that Negroes should not hold office where white people complained. Segregation, then, is a Republican institution and not a Democratic one. It was begun by Republicans, and carried on to its all-embracing extent by Republicans!
THAT THE TIMES is Catholic—that it is fighting not the Ku-Klux Klan, but the Protestants—is the declaration from Klan quarters as a result of the attack being made by The Indianapolis Times against the Klan.
It is the same declaration that always comes when the Klan is under fire.
Now—
Just as a matter of information:
It so happens that every stock-holder (and there are no bond-holders) in The Times is Protestant.
It further happens that at the present time every corporate official and every operating manager of The Times is a Protestant.