SICILIAN SOCIALISTS MAKE TROUBLE
At Travenusa a Mob of 400 Takes Possession of Trabia Villa
Rome, Dec. 28.--The anti-tax agitation of the Sicilian peasants and of the lower classes generally in Sicilian cities and villages continues to spread. News of Socialist demonstrations and anti-tax disturbances are received almost constantly at Palermo.
At Travenusa, a town of 8,000 inhabitants, twenty-one miles from Girgenti, 400 men, supposed to be members of the Fascio secret society, a revoluntionary organization, attacked the villa of Prince Trabia, drove off the servants, and took possession of the building and grounds. When the police threatened to interfere, the rioters said they would burn down the house. Infantry has been sent from Caltanisetta to dislodge them and restore order in the neighborhood.
The revolutionary movement has spread from Monte Maggiore throughout the whole province of Palermo toward Lercara di Freddi [sic]. Socialists are exhorting the peasants to resent the action of the Government in sending the military to put them down, and to answer force with force.
Giuseppe de Felice, Socialist Deputy for Catania, and founder of the Fascio, has arrived at Palermo, where he will take part in a Socialist congress of all Italy. This congress will meet on Jan. 1, and will sit for three days. The chief subjects of discussion will be the injustice of the tax system in Sicily, and the general discrimination of the authorities against the poor. It is feared that this congress may greatly accelerate the progress of revolutionary movement.
In several cities of the mainland the infection of the Sicilian unrest is beginning to be apparent. Naples is alreayd threatened with street riots. Twelve men have been arrested for inciting the people to disorder. In some of the commoner theatres agitators have thrown from the galleries programmes with these words printed on them in red ink: "Down with taxation!" "Long live the Sicilians!" "Hurrah for Socialism!"
