Comeback

BRAZIL Comeback

Vargas was back and bidding for power.

Fifteen years in and now one year out of the Brazilian dictatorship, shrewd little Getulio had lain low on his southern ranch while his successors bungled the return to democracy, compounded inflation, let Brazilians go hungry. Last week, before a rally of his own Labor Party members in his own cattle-raising state of Rio Grande do Sul, Vargas blamed his downfall on "foreign financial interests," who were jealous of his plans to make Brazil economically independent, let go at President Eurico Caspar Dutra and his Government.

"Brazil is being ruled by a capitalist democracy comfortably installed in life," said the ex-Dictator, and the "old liberal capitalist democracy is in rapid decline." But there was another way: "Socialist democracy." "To that I belong," he added. "For this I will fight on behalf of the people."

Brazilians were not surprised to learn that their old chief disliked U.S.-style democracy. Brother Viriato had long ago tersely explained the family position: "Democracy was born, matured, ripened and died. The stench from its body pollutes the air." But the socialist talk was new. Perhaps it was a page from Peron's book, a scheme for vote-getting only.

Vargas' misnamed Labor Party had been created by some of the country's richest profiteers, who made party policy on their well-appointed ranches. The party's and Vargas' immediate aim: victory for his party's candidates in the January elections for state governorships. By controlling local offices, Getulio hoped to surround the Dutra Government, get back political dictatorship of the country.

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