Election

The first election under the new electoral law took place on April 6. There was no doubt of the outcome. The Fascisti won. Two days before the election, Benito, who cast the first vote in Milan, issued a bulletin to his Fascisti:

"Blackshirts, you can have faith in me as the inflexible, severe, implacable defender of our revolution. I say to you, defend what you have already helped me to achieve by participation now, even if shedding your blood is necessary. We will begin again toward a second victory."

Fascisti lists of candidates named 356 men, the precise maximum of Deputies any party can get into Parliament under the new law. They include 216 genuine Blackshirts, 43 officers and soldiers, 2 of them totally blind, Sem Benelli (author of The Jest), 58 former Liberals, 10 former members of the Catholic Party, 26 nonparty men.

The opposition candidates numbered 1,004 for the remaining 179 seats: Don Sturzo's Catholic Party with 140 candidates, the Socialists with 100 candidates, three other opposition parties (including Giolitti's parish-pump-plus-place-holders organization and the Communists). There were also insurgent Fascisti movements in Turin and Alexandria, and the "Constitutional Opposition" headed by ex-Premier Bonomi.

Not only did Mussolini divide the opposition, but former Italian premiers were divided: Nitti holding aloof, Orlando and Salandra joining the Fascisti, Giolitti opposing.

Comparatively little violence was reported. Opposition spellbinders were moved on by the police. All voters received the following letter from the Fascisti: Dear Friend:

We notice that you have not voted yet, and as we would be sorry if your name should be included among those who have abstained, we beg you to go and vote at once without waiting for the last minute.

Feeling certain that we have done you a favor in thus recalling you to your duty, we cordially salute you.

Thus gently reminded of their civic duty and the Fascist cudgels and castor oil, panic-stricken electors rushed to the polls to "vote the right way." More than 6,000,000 voters--over 50% of the electorate--turned out--a high record for Italy.* The new electoral system (TIME, May 28, et seq.) is a triumph of the ingenuity of the Latin mind. Broadly speaking, the party receiving the largest number of votes, providing its plurality be one-quarter of the "total vote cast, will receive 356 seats--two-thirds of the seats in the Chamber of Deputies. The remaining one-third, or 179 seats, are divided proportionally among the other parties. The effect will be to give the Government an overwhelming, homogenous majority, whose work will be fought by a weak and hopelessly divided opposition.

* In the 1920 Presidential election in the U. S. 26,000,000 voters--43% of the electorate--turned out.