Evening star., 1961-09-01
BY GEORGE SHERMAN
Star staff Writer

0y OEOhOE SnEhmhN
Star staff writer
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil.
Sept. 1.-The worst crisis in
Brazilian history was precipi-
tated with the refusal by mill
tary chiefs to allow Vice Presi-
dent Joao Goulart to take the
presidency Janio Quadros sud-
denly vacated.
Literate and not so literate
Brazilians are hotly debating
the right to Illustrate the con-
stitution. Why have these chiefs
been so adamant in throwing up
roadblocks to Mr.. Goulart's
succession? Marshal Odylio
Denys powerful Minister of
War, and his two colleagues at
the head of the Navy and the
Air Force have charged Mr..
Goulart'S left extremism"
would endanger democratic in
stitutions. In the eyes of some
persons, these charges carry
more emotion than logic. In
others they are perfectly justi-
fled by Mr.. Goulart's record.
The military's feud with Mr..
Goulart dates back to his liaison
with the late Getulio Vargas.
one time dictator, one time
president and still the most con-
troversial figure on the modern
Brazilian scene.
When Mr.. Vargas committed
suicide in 1854 after being de-
posed by a combination Of
civilian and military forces for
his corruption, he ended is
years of intermittent control of
the country.
Ranch NeighbOrs
Mr.. Goulart's friendship with
Vargas began in 1945 when the
two were peighboring cattle
ranchers in Rio Grand do Sui
far to the south along the
Argentine border.
The army had just deposed
Vargas for first time after eight |
years Of his dictatorship. Var
gas retired quietly to his cattle
ranch. Up to this time, Mr..
Goulart had little interest in
politics. But the two neighbors
met and soon were having long |
sessions on politics.
In the end, Vargas convinced
this young wealthy scion of one
Of the best local families that
his future lay in the political
arena. When Vargas returned
to power in 1950-thiS time as
legally elected President - he
took the 32-year-old Goulart
with him as Minister of Labor.
In two short years Mr..
Goulart managed to ALLEVIATE |
the military completely while !
building a base among labor
bosses for his own future ca
reer.
Hub of the army's opposition
was Mr.. Goulart's unabashed
admiration for Juan Peron in
neighboring Argentina. Even
to this day he has never dis
avowed earlier public affection |
for the former Argentine die
tator. The Brazilian army was
not taking any chances on
having a Peron labor union"
republic repeated here.
The way Peron had betrayed |
the Argentine military who put
him in power was too clear an
example. Military advisers
strongly protested to Vargas
about Mr.. Goulart and the
young protege was fired.
But "Jango" Goulart was not
so easily dismissed as Minister
of Labor. He had charge of IA
institutes dispensing huge So
cial security aid. In theory,
benefits such as health insur-
ance, disabled benefits and un-
employment insurance are paid
as a right to industrial workers. |
In practice they are given large
favors. Much of the power of
labor leaders, who generally
lack strong independent union
organizations, depends on get
ting that aid for their workers. |
Here was a mechanism for
building political power. Mr.. !
Goulart had a pipeline to the
workers through labor leaders.
With a combination of material
benefits and impassfoned ora
tory about a workers society
of the future, this country gen.
tleman rapidly endeared him
self to the rank and file of
workers.
In the 1855 elections, he won
a separate vice presidential
election and accompanied Pres
ident Juselino Kubitschek into
power.
Head of Party
He had become head of the
Brazilian Labor Party-a mi
nority party not Mr.. Kubits-
chek's, and like most of the 16
other parties here it has left
and right wings which hardly
recognize one another. Mr..
Kubitschek allowed Mr.. Goulart
to consolidate his power fur
ther among the workers. He
was appointed Minister of
Labor again and also was given
control over funds dispensed by
the Ministry of Agriculture.
In 1860, Mr.. Goulart was re-
elected vice president, this time
with cratic Janio Quadros. All
this time the military chiefs
we're keeping a close eye on
Mr.. Goulart. They were deeply
suspicious of his demogogic
agitation in trade union circles
and the infiltration into his
ministry of people considered
Communists"
Beneath it all they never
forgot Mr.. Goulart's stated
lfnIN Annrnves