RUMOR, GIACOMO

A leading figure in a family which, following his example, subsequently distinguished itself widely in the field of Catholic laity, he founded the S. Giuseppe printing house and, living in Christian brotherhood with the workers, made it prosper, turning it into the publisher (later diocesan and papal) of many books and periodicals. For thirty years the Catholic daily Il Berico was printed there, to which he added the weekly L’operaio cattolico, which he himself had created. Originator and principal among the founders of the Vicentine Catholic Bank, he also established the first Catholic workers’ society and a popular school of Catholic culture. The bulk of his work was devoted, from 1883 onwards, to mutual aid, promoting Catholic workers’ and agricultural societies which in 1887 united in a federation of which he was elected president: within a decade about a hundred such societies sprang up. To mutual aid were then added professional unions on the model recommended by Toniolo, the federation of rural banks, cooperative dairies and cheese factories, and insurance for farm livestock. Rumor recounted the history of these institutions in a pamphlet entitled: Ricordi gloriosi di Azione cattolica sociale (Vicenza 1921). He was president of the diocesan board for Catholic Action, president of the Association of Catholic Electors of Vicenza and of the diocesan electoral section for forty years (known as “the great elector”). Municipal councillor (1892), provincial councillor (1895), president of the Chamber of Commerce, in the field of charity he promoted popular cheap kitchens, cheap dormitories and, during the World War of 1915-18, dining halls for families fallen on hard times.