Signs of Election

Brazilians last week still had no electoral code, no legal political parties, no idea when the promised Presidential elections would be held. But they did have a new candidate. War Minister Eurico Caspar Dutra's gold-braided general's hat was pitched into the ring. As the Government's entry, Dutra replaced President Getulio Vargas, who a fortnight ago decided that he was "not a candidate."

Archconservative, 59-year-old General Dutra was a thorough and frequent revolutionist until he connected with a successful insurrection. The Revolution of 1904 caught him up in its whirl even before he got through his cadet's training; consequently Brazilian officerdom speaks of him as a "Pescoqo de Sola" (Leatherneck)--a ranker. In the 1924 revolution, Dutra again fought the Government unsuccessfully. But he hit the jackpot in 1930 when he helped Vargas' "gauchos" ride into power. Since then he has been a staunch pillar of Brazil's neo-fascist "New State."

German Cultural Attache von Cossel once said: "Goes Monteiro [then Chief of Staff] may some day change his politics, but Dutra will always be a Nazi." In 1940, as a climax to a large purchase of German arms, Dutra accepted the Grand Cross of the German Eagle. The Japanese Embassy filled the Dutra home with a set of bright Nipponese furniture. General Dutra's admiration for the professional German Army increased as the Nazis swept to "Victory in the West." But the Nazi stalemate in Russia and the growing Allied strength paled his ardor. In mid-1942 the General discovered a great affection for the U.S.

Dutra's candidacy got a roasting from Rio de Janeiro dailies, most of which support the Opposition candidate, General Eduardo Gomes. When Dutra's campaign manager, Benedito Valadares, attended a football game in Sao Paulo, the crowd booed him out of the stadium.

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