Evening star., 1927-08-28
u. S. Friend May Head Argentine

I the Irigoyen control in every portlon
of the government excepting Congress-
where it remained and has remained,
unshattered. The projects planned by
President Alvear have virtually all been
defeated, and his notable program OF
reform in land holdings and taxation
has been held in complete abeyance
by the grim, silent opposition OF the
Irigoyen party.
| This wing of the Radical party Is
today known as the "personalista'
party, and that headed by DR.. Meio as
the "anti-personalistas." The battle Is
now on in earnest. and even the fear
that there may be strong political
opposition outside the party and that
the Radical control of Argentine poll
tics, SO long thought secure. may be
threatened has not yet been able to
bring about a compromise. The fight
within the party organization is given
additional Importance from the fact
! that the ideal for which DR.. Alem
fought so long and for which his
name is mmortal--compulsory and
secret voting-is now only half true.
The compulsory feature has proven
ineffective, even though it 10 linked
up with the military registration. and
it is estimated that only about IS per
cent of the voters actually come to
the polls. The situation Is no worse
than in the United States, but is con.
sidered more serious in Argentina just
now because it SO greatly enhances
the power Of the party counsels, as
%o1 80 ,frn1 Of al
torate itself.
X X
Whether the turn of the wheel will
bring Dr.. Pueyrredon into the presi.
Dental limelight now no one can tell.
President Alvear has not indicated
that he will support DIR. Melo. and
perhaps he will not give his official
support to any one. DR.. Pueyrredon Is
distinctly neutral. neutral to the
extent of declining to talk Argentine
politics with any one, even in Wash.
ington, but his position is unassailable,
and as compromise candidate with
the support Of both factions he would
be able to do tremendous things for
his country as well as for his party.
high office. at a time when under
standing and sympathy between the
United States and Argentina would be
OF immense Importance to both, man
who understands this country very
well indeed. not only from political
standpoint. but from the practical
viewpoint of knowing it's people. Lord
Bryce and WI Ting-Fang are the
classic examples of foreign diplomats
who found their way far into the
understanding and affection Of the
American people. the former for his
great studies of our Government, the
latter for his Unsuitable interest DR..
Pueyrredon combines, with great dig
nifty, both these attributes. He has
carried through many important diplo-
matte services for his country in
which he has dealt intimately with
all branches of our Government, and
he has known and talked with all
classes and types of Americans. This
Summer he made an automobile trip
of 10000 miles with his family and
suite, travelling In big motor cars of
American make. He saw the Amer.
lean people off parade, and ate and
talked with them, from the movie
colony at Hollywood-where he was
astute enough to avoid the "news"
photographers-to the ''hot-dog"
stands on the automobile highways.
He was delighted, impressed and
illuminated by his journey, as he has
been by his long and notable diplo- |
matte service here, and his return to
Argentina to the presidency would be
an augury Of unquestioned far-f1ung
value to our friendly relations.