PUERTO RICO: Jibaros’ Man

All night long a steady stream of cars, buses and trucks inched its way toward San Juan. Puerto Rico’s jibaros (farmers) were coming down from the hills for the Popular Democratic Party’s convention. One morning last week, more than 100,000 of them jammed into Sixto Escobar Athletic Park. By the time the last “Viva!” died away, they had nominated 50-year-old Luis Munoz Marin, president of the Insular Senate, as their candidate in the island’s first gubernatorial election.

Sad-eyed Munoz, founder and president of the Popular Democratic Party, speaks the jibaro’s language. His friends say that he could explain the Einstein theory so that a child—or a jibaro—could understand it. His faith in the jibaros is almost mystical, but he knows they must be led.

Out of the Bottle. During a speech to a country audience, Munoz once stopped to take a swig from a Coke bottle. “That’s our man!” somebody yelled. “He drinks ,from the bottle!” “Wait a minute,” Munoz broke in. “If you vote for me just because I drink from the bottle, you’ll start voting for everybody who drinks out of bottles.”

Once a fiery advocate of Puerto Rican independence, Munoz now believes that both independence and statehood are best forgotten while the island builds up its economic health. His platform: industrialization, expansion of the social legislation which he wrote in the days before Governor Rexford G. Tugwell* arrived, a new Pureto Rican constitution by revision or replacement of the present Organic Act—to provide that no changes shall be made in Puerto Rico’s governmental system without consulting the islanders.

Ranged against him in the November elections are:

¶The Independentistas, favoring immediate independence. They are led by Dr. Francisco M. Susoni, who recently quit the Popular Democrats and his job as speaker of the Insular House of Representatives.

¶ A coalition of the Estadistas (an offshoot of the continental G.O.P.), the Reformists and the Socialists. They are pledged to work for statehood on a ticket headed by Martin Travieso, Chief Justice of Puerto Rico’s Supreme Court.

Up to the Knees. Even if all Munoz’ strength lay in his beloved jibaros, most Puerto Rican politicos concede that he would win. But his magic also works with some middle-class intellectuals, and with the slumdwellers of San Juan’s malodorous El Fanguito (TIME, Aug. 23).

Said a resident of El Fanguito last week: “When we came here, we had to wade through mud up to the knees. Munoz filled in the streets. Before he came into power, many people here lost their poor little homes because they could not pay their taxes. Now we pay no property tax. How shall I vote? For Munoz, all my life!”

*For news of ex-Governor Tugwell, see NATIONAL AFFAIRS.