Monday, Jul. 23, 1923

--Eja! Eja! Alala!

* Eja! Eja! Alala!

By a vote of 335 to 139 the Camera dei Deputati passed a vote of confidence in the Government, considered tantamount to passing the bill for electoral reform, which gives two-thirds of the seats to the party that gets a plurality of the votes. It was a great personal triumph for Mussolini. He had said he would have his way and he got it. At the conclusion of a rough, dictorial speech he exclaimed: "What is liberty? There is no such thing as absolute liberty!" Ex-Premiers Orlando and Giolitti congratulated him; the entire Chamber rushed and hoisted him shoulder high and carried him around the building, singing Fascist hymns; the disgruntled Socialists, Communists and Republicans stared sullenly at the wreck of their hopes.

* Old Greek salute meaning Hip! Hip! Hooray! revived by d'Annunzio and adopted by the Fascisti.