Evening star., 1951-09-09

share of profits from all foreign trade
and commerce, ranchers began cut
ting down their herds. Many of the
Farmers planted less grain. They
figured that their expenses would be
less. and their income just as much,
on reduced output.
Newcastle Without CooIs
At this moment, there is a shortage
of meat even in the local markets Of
Buenos Aires and other large Argen-
tine cities. In mid-August. all ex-
ports of beef to Great Britain were
abruptly suspended-in order to pro-
vide more meat for the home needs.
Yet, in the last few weeks. many of
the markets have been able to supply
less than half of the demands. This
is something unprecedented to the
Argentine people, who have always
been able to get all the meat they
wanted at unbelievably low prices.
This sort of thing is bound to affect
the political situation. 1t was only
matter of hours after Sonora de
accept the vice presidential nomina-
tion until the government cracked
down on the cattle growers. A decree
was issued ordering them to begin
delivering livestock to market in nor
NAL quantities within "a hours
otherwise the government would seize
their ranches. The decree also ac-
cused the producers of deliberately
trying Ito disturb the market and
place themselves outside the law"
Labor. Of course. has been seriously
affected by these shortages in the
supply of basic food products. But
that is not labors only complaint.
The older and more conservative
unions in the country have become
irked by the manner in which the
government uses the various organi-
cations to whip up public opinion.
Every few days the Peronista Party
and the hand-picked leaders of the
General Confederation of Labor seem
to organize pro-government pill
grimages to the big cities. particu-
larly in Buenos Aires.
Expensive Potriotism
These excursions have proven to
be increasingly expensive to the indi-
vidual worker. Although his wages
usually go on and his actual expenses
are paid, he cannot take his entire
family into town without spending
considerable extra money. What Is
more. since the railroads, commune
cation companies and various other
utilities have been nationalized. the
government has become the largest
single employer of labor. While the
practice has been to compel private
business organizations to raise wages
every few months, the pay OF those
employed by government enterprises
has not increased correspondingly
The railroad workers have struck
twice within the past year in a de-
mand for higher pay. The last stop
page of work was accompanied by
violence and widespread sabotage.
Although the government immediate
ly resorted to iron-fisted measures,
the great body of workers has not
knuckled under as completely as was
expected. Considerable sympathy for
their action has developed among
other large labor groups.
Members of the ld-established
unions, such as the railroad, tele-
phone. telegraph and electrical work
ers, have also objected to the way in
which the Perons have cuddled the
''deScof1icadoS the "shirtlesS" or
unskilled, not to say the more shift
less. workers. In fact. so many of
these have been forced into the estab-
lished unions. or organized into new
groups and spoon-fed by the govern
ment. that in many branches of labor
they outnumber the older workers.
The strategy being employed by the
Peronista Party leaders in the pres
ent campaign is another evidence OF
weakness on the home front. When
all is not serene within their own
borders, strong governments
usually point to dangers from
abroad. Until q few months ago,
every speech and statement made by
the Perons stressed the fact that the
Argentine nation had regained its
economic as well as its political inde-
pendence. The internal economy
was sound. Argentines now owned
the railroads and most Of the utili-
ties. Salaries and wages had