The Campaigner

Chignoli [voicing militant opposition, objects]: If Buozzi: We've got a problem.., our adversaries
Russia had been troubled by the worries he would call us sellouts. We'll have to come to some
[D'Aragona] expressed, that marvellous experiment agreement on the basis of a few important points in
would never have taken place, the metalworkers' original platform, in order to
arrive at a quick settlement. The longer the masses
Terracini [member of the PSI leadership and stay in the plants, the more their demands will infounding
member of the Ordine Nuovo faction, asks crease .... We're all in a state of perplexity .... "
D'Aragona a question]: What do you think of the
possible revolution in Italy and its future? [Buozzi and D'Aragona confer about the industrialists'
offer of a four-lira daily raise. The original demand had
D'Aragona [at the end of his rope, finally admitting been for seven. Buozzi promises to give D'Aragona an
that the solution must be political, offers this feeble answer tonight. Gennari and D'Aragona exit to confer
suggestion]:...the state should supply raw briefly with representatives of the railroad workers'
materials; it would be a victory. If you don't think union. Re-enter D'Aragona and Gennari.]
the revolution is possible, there's a way out for you.
Now to undertake a similar action we would need Gennari: ... the railroad workers' union has an
men who have faith in the revolution even under the important agitation going... [I] warned the railroad
conditions the country finds itself in. I don't feel up workers not to let their agitation get in the way of
to assuming responsibilities that would lead to a ours,
massacre of the people, and I'm leaving, also
because I feel that to lead greater discipline is [Gennari straightens his jacket, breathes in deeply and
needed here and I realize that you are lacking this. prepares to announce the PSI's deliberation on the
[At these words a tumult breaks out in the room]...
current metalworkers' occupation -- a real bombshell.]
Gennari: The leadership has come to the conclue
• • sion that the ongoing agitation must be deemed
Session of Sept. 5, 1920 insoluble. One can't think that the industrialists will
now give up, or that the workers will settle without
[Enter D'Aragona. He reads the motion jointly serious concessions...the situation is no longer a
elaborated by PSI leadership and CGL Executive question of one category's ._ght but is of an emi-
Council, which blames the ferment on industrial intran- nently political character. Therefore [I] see the need
sigence, justifies the FIOM" action, calls for solidarity, for the CGL Executive Council and the Party
and declares the negotiations for an economic solution Leadership to intervene.., the FIOM must step
will be pursued. In the event the solution is not forth- aside and the movement must be led by the CGL
coming, the CGL and PSI are to be called upon to and the PSI. [He reads a PSI motion]: The party
engage the entire proletariat in action.] leadership and the CGL... invite the proletariat to
in all possible ways prevent comrades involved in the
D'Aragona: ... therefore it is proposed that the struggle from being crushed, to have recourse to all
competent organs give to the struggle the goal of means whatsoever capable of protecting the life of
[workers'] control over firms to arrive at manage- the occupied factories, which must now be seen as
ment and socialization of every form of production, definitively handed over to the collectivity _ as well
as the exchange of raw materials therein pro-
• • * duced... ; to extend the movement in all fields of
industry and agriculture as the need and urgency
Plenary Session of the Confederation and the are felt .... the leadership of the Party, assisted by
Leadership of the Party the CGL, assumes the responsibility and the leader _
September 9, 1920 ship of the movement, extending it to the whole
country and to the entire proletarian masses.
[Buozzi and D'Aragona have been negotiating secretly
with industrialists and prefects respectively. Buozzi is [Gennari continues, specifying that everything must be
upset because the industrialists will negotiate only on taken over -- railroads and ships must furnish supplies,
condition that the factories be given back.] trade and finance must be regulated, farm laborers must
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