Election Plans

Fascista Party. Premier Mussolini published the full list of candidates who will contest the next elections* on the Fascista ticket.

In reality the Fascisti will be a coalition composed of about 250 Fascisti and 106 from other parties.

Of the 250 Fascisti, 100 are the bright stars of the party--that is, the men who are occupying high positions; the remaining 150 shed a dimmer light.

Many political notables "have been included in the 106 candidates of other parties. The most prominent are ex-Premiers Orlando and Salandra.

Benito has seen to it that all social classes and professions are represented. Thus the list contains 20 capitalists, 10 aristocrats, 12 workmen, 20 university professors, 50 lawyers, 30 journalists, etc.

Benito has insured himself against defeat by running for two constituencies at the same time. Thus, if he does not get elected at Milan, he will surely be chosen at Naples. If he is elected for both places, he will have to renounce one--probably Naples.

Only 88 out of the 356 candidates were members of the last parliament. The remaining 268 are seeking election for the first time.

Benito gave preference to maimed soldiers in compiling his list.

The Fascisti candidates are distributed in proportion to the Fascisti strength in each electoral district./- In the Marches, for example, there are only two Fascisti out of eleven candidates ; in Naples, eleven out of 33; in Sicily, 13 out of 39; while in Tuscany, where the Fascisti are not strong, there are 23 out of 25 candidates.

Liberal Party. Ex-Premier Giolitti takes up the cudgels with Benito. Ex-Premier Nitti will not take part in the elections.

Democratic-Liberal Party. Prince Colonna di Cesaro, onetime Minister of Ports and Telegraphs under Benito, will lead the D. L. P. war-whoop against his ex-chief.

Unitarian Socialist Party. The U. S. P. will peck at the Fascisti under the able wing of ex-Premier Bonomi.

* The elections will be held in the Spring.

/- According to the new electoral law, the party which receives a plurality of the votes is to receive two-thirds of the seats in the Chamber of Deputies. Thus, in order to collect votes, the Fascista Party is placing as many candidates as possible in districts where they anticipate hot opposition.