Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-04-26
BY LOUIS NEVIN
Associated Press Star Writer

ASsoclhgeo EIesS StaH WRITER
LISBON.-Alnid growing muir
murS that he has been around too
long, Premier Antonio de Oliveira
Salazar marks his 31st year as
absolute ruler Of Portugal.
Yet, as Salazar also celebrates
his 10th birthday, he has given no
signs Of choosing a successor.
The anniversary of his long rule
Of Europe's westernmost nation
will be observed Monday. The day
following is his birthday ami
versary.
The twin anniversaries find him
with twin troubles.
Accustomed to running Port
ugal without challenge, he first
tasted opposition last June when
a former advocate, Gen. Hum
berto Delgado, senior air force
officer, ran for the presidency on
a fiat anti-Salazar program.
Salazar vetoed reelection plans
of his old friend, Gen. Higino
Craveiro Lopes, and selected Ad-
miral America Thomaz as the ma
tional union candidate. Thomaz
won the election, but Salazar took
it as a personal affront that Del
gado received Is per cent Of the
votes.
Premier in III Health
Slender. stopped and frail, the
white-haired one-time economies
professor also is reported in i'll
health. Last February he was
stricken with influenza which
later developed into pneumonia.
In the opposition camp, there
Is fear the shy, often retiring
Premier will die in Office and that
chaos will follow with either the
Communists taking over or the
army establishing a military
dictatorship.
On the other hand, Salazar
supporterS-thoSe who want his
national union regime to con-
tinue-have begged him to give
UP the premiership for the presi-
dency in order to train success
sor. Salazar refused.
His reaction to opposition and
criticism-which includes restive-
ness among some Roman Catho-
lie leaders-was to crack down.
There have been widespread
arrests and increased activity by
his secret police.
Thus he seeks to secure his role
as practically the longest reigning
one-man ruler. Morocco and Lux
embourg have chiefs Of state who
have headed governments longer
than Salazar, but unlike him they
are not active rulers.
Often called the mystery man
Of Furoue." because many Of the
facts of his life are shrouded in
obScurity, the real mystery is how
this son Of humble peasants has
maintained himself in power so
long.
Hitlers and MusSolinis, mon
archs have come and gone: war
and revolution has swept over the
world, but Salazar remains.
The Story Of His Coreer
There is no single answer to
the mystery. When he became
minister of finance in 1928 with
full control over the country's des-
tiny. he seemed the indispensable
man. The economy was chaotic
in the hands of the military lead
ers who had overthrow the Re-
publican parliamentary regime
two years earlier.
Salazar quickly brought order to
the governments finances.
At the same time he abolished
all political parties but formed his
own national union organization.
He wrote a constitution for the
nation that made opposition to the
national union, and SalaZar vir-
tually impossible.
In addition he instituted total
censorship. He banned free trade
unions and outlawed strikes. And
he developed his secret police, the
policia International de defensaS
do eStado (PIDE.
Ironically. however, under the
1888 constitution the president of
the republic can dismiss Salazar
at any time, But the electoral laws
always ensured a Salazar man was
president.
Despite this. Salazar denies
heatedly that he is a dictator or
that his regime is totalitarian.
i believe democracy is a fic-
ton. he says, II do not believe
In universal suffrage. do not