Democracy at Work

Dignified in formal tail coat, the President-elect of Uruguay's National Council, Luis Batlle (pronounced Bat-zhay) Berres, 57, stepped from his car one sunny afternoon last week and mounted the broad steps to the main entrance of the halls of Congress. There he came face to face with veteran conservative Leader Luis Alberto Herrera, 81, who has valiantly run for President eight times and lost every time, most recently to Batlle Berres. It was a scene that could not have occurred in any of a dozen other Latin American countries, where the defeated candidate would have been exiled, sulking or plotting a revolution. In democratic Uruguay winner and loser greeted each other warmly, and a big crowd in the plaza shouted for them both.

Word of Honor. Because Uruguay's government is constitutionally secular, the oath of office that Batlle Berres swore a few minutes later in Congress' circular marble hall was taken on a copy of the constitution rather than a Bible, and on his personal honor rather than in God's name. Eight other men, members of Uruguay's Swiss-style council of state, did likewise. Five are from Batlle Berres' Colorado Party; three chosen members will take the presidency in succeeding one-year terms after their chief has served for the first year. The other councilors, among them Herrera, are from the opposition National Party.

Luisito, as Uruguayans call Batlle Berres, and his fellow councilors will face grave problems right away. The country's wool is selling well, but its wheat must compete against other countries' surpluses, and its famous herds of cattle have been depleted by drought. The country's left-of-center, welfare-state laws provide subsidies for both wheat farmers and cattlemen, although the public debt is already $387 million--high for a country of only 2,500,000 people. Workers are feeling the pinch of inflation, with prices nearly 2 1/2 times greater than in 1943. Strikes have been frequent.

Work for Progress. But since the hard-fought election (TIME, Dec. 13), Batlle Berres has closed ranks with other factions of the Colorados, now counts on a majority in the Senate and a working majority (the opposition is split seven ways) in the Chamber of Deputies. And he is well aware that essentially his job is raising Uruguay's production. In his inaugural address he said: "We shall work, and we shall make the country work." He still hoped to "march down the roads of the left that in other lands make men shudder, but in ours merely constitute steps on the way to progress." The speech brought hearty cheers.

The ceremony over, the councilors arranged themselves for a photograph. Herrera pressed Batlle Berres to the front with the courteous "Please go ahead." Smilingly, the new President took the defeated candidate by the arm, sat by his side and said, "With your help, we shall go ahead."

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