MUSSOLINI'S POWER

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 18, 22 January 1924, Page 6

MUSSOLINI'S POWER

» ' i A cable message which we publish to-day makes mention of some interesting features in the new election system of Italy. These would be of greater interest if we had a simple explanation of the system itsejf. But the system' does not lend itself to simple explanation. It is not designed for explanation and clear-cut demonstiation, but for the attainment of a practical objective—the return of a Government strong enough to govern Italy by the elimination," or at least the reduction to impotence, of those small parties and factions which were strong enough for nothing but intrigue and quarrelmaking. Possibly Italy would ,not have accepted the new system peaceably had it not been for the presence of the man,' Mussolini, who could supply the government to fit the system. No impersonal judgment upon the Italian system would be correct, because its basis is personal. The Rome correspondent of " The Times" recently stated this fact succinctly in ono phrase: " Mussolini is Fascismo." Mussolini, the correspondent stated, was the unifying force of Italy. He was credited (with all the good deeds of Fascism, and all the mistakes were attributed to his subordinates. This was a correct judgment, but Mussolini was fortunate to obtain it. Among the more conspicuous achievements of Mussolini which make a popular appeal is the termination of the quarrel between Church and State. In domestic afiairs, also, Mussolini is credited with many reforms—"the simplification of taxation and the reduction of the financial deficit, an Eight-Hour Day Act, and better relations between Capital Labour. The reforms are not spectacular,, but are the result of plain spade-work, and competent judges say that Mussolini has made much progress in impressing upon hiscountrymen his own idea that the Fascist revolution (which was spectacular) must be built upon by hard labour in every-day affairs, with the motto: " Discipline, order, work," ever before all sections.