Six Years More

By a 2-to-1 majority, Juan Peron this veek won a second six-year term as Argentina's President. With 90% of the ballots counted, he had 4,000,000 votes; his nearest rival, Radical Ricardo Balbin, had 2,100,000 and six other candidates trailed ar back in the ruck.

Peron's margin was greater than his 55% edge in 1946, a popular mandate loudly acclaimed by his party followers. But it was not the kind of sweeping percentage that strong-man regimes commonly drum up. Peron, in fact, had not seemed to be trying during the campaign. After taking a leave of absence from office to barnstorm for an overwhelming victory, he canceled all such plans when tiis wife Evita fell gravely ill. Sticking lose to Evita's bedside, he made only four radio campaign speeches.

Even so, the opposition had no chance. Six years of systematic destruction of Argentine civil rights took care of that. Harassed by police, barred from access to Dress and radio, the opposition was alowed only to hold open-air meetings. Balbin, the leading anti-Peronista, was arrested twice during the campaign for 'disrespect" to the President. To top things off, Peron imposed virtual martial law after last September's abortive army revolt. This lasted throughout the campaign, and was lifted only on election eve.

Ill though she was, the President's wife played a key role in the election. Before going to the hospital for a major operation, she recorded a speech, broadcast on the night marking the end of the campaign. "I would gladly give my life for a Peronista vote," said Evita. "Place in the ballot box your mark of love and faith . . . to our leader." The operation, reportedly for removal of a uterine growth, was successful, according to a palace communique.

After a rugged last week of street rallies ending in riots, election day was quiet. Voting, by law, was compulsory. Though torrential rains held down the rural vote, the capital turnout ran more than 90%. For the first time women voted, Evita casting hers in a special ballot box sent to her hospital bed.

The elections over, and martial law reimposed, the President got ready to end

his leave of absence and reassume his

executive powers.

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