In 1921 he was prefect of Bologna, and was one of the few members of the forces of law and order to oppose the organised thuggery (squadrismo) of the Fascist movement.
I 1921 var han præfekt i Bologna, hvor han var blandt de få medlemmer af ordensmagten, der modsatte sig den organiserede kriminalitet (squadrismo) i den fascistiske bevægelse.