Opposition

While Premier Mussolini was winning votes in the Chamber of Deputies, to give him temporary power summarily to eject his enemies from government employment, the secessionist Deputies (Socialists who began a boycott of the Chamber of Deputies following the murder, last year, of Socialist Deputy Giacomo Matteotti) were discussing their future policy on the Aventine hill to the south*.

The secessionists' position in the Chamber was in any case unsatisfactory ; for, according to the last election, they shared only one third of the seats with the other opposition parties. Their withdrawal, from the Chamber, therefore, in no sense affected the political situation. But they had hoped by their noncooperation protest to force the Government out. Instead, the Government grew stronger and the Aventine Opposition, as it is called, withered under the scorching blasts of Mussolini invectives and devices.

To save their faces, everybody supposed the Aventines would vote at their caucus to end their political abstention in view of the reopening of Parliament. Not so. The Deputies voted continuance of the boycott. Many of them demurred. Deputy Dice Saro, one of the leaders, resigned. Others were expected to return to the Chamber in defiance of the majority.

Before the dissidents could put their intentions into force, one of the most momentous, as well as one of the shortest, sessions was over. Almost unanimously, the Chamber adopted a bill to regulate the press and another to empower the Government to issue decree laws until Parliament reassembled in the Fall. Premier Mussolini announced that he would not take a vacation; and, with a sweep of his arm, the proceedings came to an end.

Next day, the Augusteo Amphitheatre was crowded with bemedaled Black Shirts who had arrived from all parts of Italy to attend this year's National Congress of Fascisti. In the Royal Box sat Mussolini gazing down upon the multitude with the air of a Caesar. On the stage was Deputy de Vecchi urging complete "Fascistization" of the State: "Our efforts will not be relaxed," he said, "until ultimate victory. Our chief cannot be touched without passing over our dead bodies"--the finishing touch which caused an uproarious rendition of the inevitable Fascist hymn, Giovinezza.

*Old Rome was built on the following hills: Capitoline, Quirinal, Viminal, Esquiline, Caelian, Palatine, Aventine.