Capital vs. Labor

An attempt to bring capital and labor together "on the basis of national discipline," which means under the thumb of Fascismo, was made during the week.

Under the presidency of Premier Mussolini a conference of capital and labor representatives was held in Rome. It was decided to establish a permanent committee of five representatives from each side to discuss labor problems under the supervision of the Government. Two meetings, one between farmers and labor, the other between small industrialists and commercial interests, were also scheduled.

During the conference Mussolini said: "Marxism's mistake is in believing only two classes exist. It is a greater mistake to believe these are always conflicting. Contest is possible, but it is monetary and not systematic. Collaboration between Italian capital and labor has already begun because both sides realize there is a common field for both capital and labor."

Secretary Olivetti of the General Industry Federation commented: "The session shows a move toward tackling industrial problems from a purely Italian viewpoint. Hitherto Italy has been examined under the hypnotism of foreign Socialist ideas. Italy, lacking the raw materials and big capital of the United States, lacking Britain's organized industry and banking system, lacking France's colonial resources, must win the victory of industry by tenacity, work, intelligence and thrift, by which Italian manufacturers can conquer new markets."

Deputy Aragona, head of the Italian Labor Federation, was not optimistic. Said he: "This Fascista labor union conception is a fiasco. To be sure, there is a compact in which a commission of five is nominated, but in times of great stress these agreements become scraps of paper. The conflict between capital and labor is not a question of production, but one of distribution of earnings. To work more and to produce more--both capital and labor are agreed upon this, but, how much is to go to the capitalist and how much to the workman--there is the inevitable conflict."