Gangsters in Sicily
The Last Struggle with the Mafia. By Prefect Mori. (Put- nam. 10s. 6c1.)
SENATOR CESARE MORI, the exterminator of the famous secret society known as the Mafia, is a philosopher as well as a realist. He tackled the problem of public safety in Sicily both in its practical aspect--how to round up the criminals effectively— and in its relation to public opinion. To quell crime by a strong police force is not enough : the ultimate sanctions for law and order must be broad-based upon the people's will and conscience : hysterical attempts at repression are fol- lowed by equally sentimentalreprieves and lead only to spells of violence on both sides. Mori cultivated public opinion from the beginning of his administration, and had to contend with two negative elements in his public : the traditionalists who thought that the air of Sicily favoured the growth of secret societies, and the sentimentalists, a more dangerous crew, who were inclinecito be kind to the criminals at the expense of their victims. He based his reforms on the axiom that it is of first and paramount importance that the forces of the State should inspire confidence and gain the good will of all classes. In this he was so successful that after his men had been operating for some time, the people took a pride in coming forward to give evidence, whereas previously it had been impossible to secure the conviction of the more notorious gangsters. But interestinTfis are Signor Mori's methods, the implications in his book are even more important. He states that in his opinion the old electoral system in Italy (which was abolished by Fascism in favour of occupational representation) gave'wide openings to "graft " and intimidation, and that the Mafia would still be flourishing, as are the gunmen of the United States and the brigands of the Balkans, if the supreme authority rested with a geographically elected Parliament instead of a popular dictatorship. Into this we eau read what morals we choose. This book is one which sociologist and plain citizen alike can read with benefit, applying its conclusions to their own problems.
- - F. YEArs-Bitowx.
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