Today -100: November 19, 1925: Of odium, the only live force in Italy, defectives, and the arms of women in Havana

The British House of Commons ratifies the Locarno Treaty in what is being called “the spirit of Locarno,” meaning a European desire for enduring peace. Ramsay MacDonald and David Lloyd George criticize the lack of consultation with the British Dominions. Foreign Minister Austen Chamberlain (whose brother will declare “peace for our time” in 1938) says, “I do not say that these treaties when ratified will make war impossible...” Disappointing. “...but I do say they will render war infinitely more difficult.” How will it render war infinitely – infinitely! – more difficult? Because any country that starts a war will be “clearly putting itself in the wrong before the whole civilised world and bearing the odium of such wrong-doing.”

The Italian Parliament is considering a bill to make Mussolini responsible only to the weak-ass king, not, as now, in theory, to parliament and the king. Other “ultra-fascista” bills would give The Duck a veto over the agenda of Parliament and seize the property and revoke the citizenship of Italians living abroad who say bad things about (“damage the prestige of”) the Fascist regime. The Duck praises the idea of Italians all voluntarily subscribing to pay off the war debt to the US. He sez “Today Fascismo is the only live force in Italy. Everything else can be relegated to museums.” Also, “Throughout the world there is a feeling that the parliamentary system was good in the past, but today it is insufficient for the needs and passions of modern society.”

Dr. Clarence Cook Little, president of the University of Michigan, calls for the sterilization of mental “defectives.” He says there won’t be any abuse of this because “a public opinion intelligent enough to understand its need will be intelligent enough to prevent its abuse.” See, and you were worried about abuse.

The Hungarian Court of Appeals reverses the death sentences (and possibly the convictions as well? unclear) of József Márffy and Karl Marosi, two leaders of the Society of Awakening Hungarians who threw bombs into a Jewish dance hall 2 years ago, killing 9, but it does sentence them to 6 years for trying to bomb the French Legation, the homes of 2 Liberal leaders, a court building, etc. Some light googling failed to reveal whatever happened to these dudes.

Rhinelander v. Rhinelander: Leonard “Kip” Rhinelander is questioned by Alice’s lawyer Lee Davis:

“What is the color of your wife’s body?”

“Dark.”

“How dark?”

“Fairly dark.”

“Is it very pronounced?”

“It isn’t any darker than the arms of women I have seen in Havana.”

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