Plaza's Pains

Galo Plaza Lasso decided not to wait any longer to find out whether he was the next President of Ecuador. An old foot ailment had begun acting up again, and his Quito doctors had not been able to make up their minds whether the trouble was rheumatism, arthritis or an allergy ("Perhaps an allergy to politics," cracked Plaza). So this week Plaza flew to New York for treatment--leaving Ecuador's ballot counters fussing for the fifth week.

New York is an old stamping ground for Plaza. As a general's disinherited son, in the depths of the depression he had sold apples on a Manhattan street corner. Later he returned to the U.S. as his country's ambassador. Now he plans to see bankers as well as doctors, sound them out for some new loans to get his administration started. Another possibility: persuading his friend Nelson Rockefeller to start a development corporation in Ecuador like his Basic Economy Corporation in Venezuela.

Should any of these deals come off, Independent Plaza's presidential chances will improve. In last week's count he led Conservative Manuel Elicio Flor 115,846 to 111,970, and when the last few returns were examined this week the Electoral Court would probably proclaim his election. But Congress can still annul Plaza's majority. With a few achievements in the U.S., go-getting Galo Plaza could convince the last diehards that they had better string along with him.

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