30% for Batista

Cuban police swept over the island last week with a blanket order to round up radicals, "detained" hundreds, for several days. With this as a prelude, Cuba's dominant army "strong man," squat, swarthy Colonel Fulgencio Batista held elections to fill 81 seats in the House, one in the Senate.

When Cuba revived constitutional government in 1936, after a three-year lapse, the constitution provided that half the lower chamber be renewed every two years. Some months ago the members drew lots to determine those who would serve the short two-year term and at last week's balloting a majority of the unlucky holders were up for reelection. All the candidates, although they represented seven parties, were pledged to Batista and his Three-Year Plan. Cuban voters were so apathetic that less than 30% of the electorate went to the polls.

For the first time in Cuban history military men watched over the polling places. Boastfully proud of his army and contemptuous of Cuban politicians, Batista called this election "the fairest and most honorable in the republic's history." Cuba's much-bossed President, Federico Laredo Bru, who has long been expected to announce his resignation after this election, kept mum last week about himself, but made a possibly ironic speech of "thanks" to citizens of Santiago for their "demonstrative" greeting to his "representative," Batista, on the occasion of a grand fiesta celebrating the 43rd anniversary of the beginning of Cuba's struggle for independence.

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