Giolitti
GIOVANNI, an Italian statesman. He was born at Mondovi, province of Cuneo, in 1843; and was educated at Turin. He held a post in the Ministry of Finance for eight years, ber of Deputies. In 1889 he became Minister of the Treasury, and in 1890 Minister of Finance, becoming in 1892 President of the Ministry, being compelled to resign in the following year as a result of his relations with a director of the Banca Romana, whom he had made senaafter which he was elected to the Chamtor, and who had been guilty of issuing duplicate notes and corrupting government officials. In 1901 he was back in power again, becoming Minister of the Interior, in 1903 resigning and forming a ministry of his own. Resigning in 1905, he returned as head of the ministry in 1906, continuing till 1909, when he was followed by Sonnino, whom he succeeded in 1911. He resigned again in 1914, and when the World War broke out was against the participation in it of Italy. As a result, though regarded as almost Italy's most capable statesman, he did not figure prominently in the affairs arising out of it. His conduct of affairs was always characterized by retrenchment in expenditure. He brought in much legislation tending toward the amelioration of the condition of the working classes, and a large part of his influence has come from the support he found among them.
GIPSIES