Evviva Savoia!

The fight for electoral " reform" has taken a curious aspect: In the North the powerful Popular Party (Catholic) and in the South a royalist movement are the rallying points for the opposition to Mussolini's scheme.

Mussolini wants elections to be held for the whole of Italy, each party to name a list of 350 men, who would become Deputies of the Party that secured the largest vote. The remaining seats (about 200) would be divided proportionately among the other parties.

This would put nomination entirely in the hands of the party leaders and would tend to deprive the politically backward South of representation in Parliament.

Under the present system there are 55 electoral colleges, each of which holds ten seats. The party gaining the largest vote receives six of the seats, the others are assigned proportionately to the opposition parties. This scheme originated with Nitti in 1919, and made it practically impossible for any party to gain a majority. The Popular Party held the balance of power between the Liberal and the Socialistic groups and was able to force Catholic representation in all the coalition Governments that resulted, including even the Fascist Government.

Don Sturzo, leader of the Popular Party, does not intend to abandon this advantage. Mussolini, probably backed by the anti-democratic Jesuit wing of the Vatican, is engaged in a duel with the astute little priest, and hopes to force him from leadership. Don Sturzo's popularity with the Party is immense. A Party Congress is expected and there Don Sturzo will either show his strength or be ousted from command.

The South of Italy fears the proposed change, as all political parties are organized and run from the progressive North. The party nominations would then fall to Northern men. Government posts would be given to Northerners, and Ministries would no longer need to bargain for Southern political support.

In Naples and Sicily the King has been received with tremendous ovations. Men wear his picture in their buttonholes. From under this royalist camouflage, anti-Fascist utterances are becoming frequent.

In the Fascist Party itself, Mussolini fears strong opposition, because the revolutionary party ranks were watered by a rush of Fascisti who wanted to hold office. These men would probably do anything to get and retain power.

Mussolini has been tactless in several instances. On the occasion of the visit of the British Royalties the Fascist hymn was played with the English and Italian national anthems, an award of royal honor to Mussolini that surprised Queen Mary and annoyed the King of Italy. Mussolini's Minister of Finance referred to his appointment " by Mussolini," although it is the royal prerogative to appoint Ministers. The Minister of Education, Signor Gentile, announced that he had become converted from Liberalism to Fascism. Liberal leaders pointed out that Gentile had never been a member of their Party and could not speak for the Liberal Party.

Mussolini's dictatorial powers expire on December 31; unless he can, by his " electoral reform" cement his power over his Party before elections, he will either be dragged by his followers into some foolish coup d'etat, or will find his Party outvoted in the Italian Chamber of Deputies, and his position intolerable.