Man of the People

For weeks the back-country jibaros (farmers) had planned for El Dia Dos (Jan. 2)--the great day when Puerto Rico would inaugurate its first elected governor. When the day came this week, 150,000 islanders turned out to cheer for Governor Luis Mufioz Marin in the biggest celebration of San Juan's 455-year history.

Honor guests, including U.S. officials, bankers and businessmen flown down from the mainland, watched the ceremony and inaugural parade from a grandstand on the steps of the marble Capitol. Munoz took the oath of office, administered by Chief Justice Angel de Jesus, shook hands with the judge, exchanged a warm abrazo with retiring Governor Jesus T. Pinero. Then Munoz spoke to his people:

"There is no reason why you should not all share this oath with me . . . It is in this way, and not by the oath and dedication of man alone . . . that the Puerto Rican people may, within the smallness of their territory, realize the greatness of their destiny."

And Munoz added a blunt warning that Puerto Rico's destiny was not to be achieved by phony nationalism:

"The U.S. tomorrow could, without loss, declare Puerto Rico a nation apart and the most notable political novelty would be a change in my title . . . but there could be economic changes that would be highly damaging . . . A political status cannot exist in an economic vacuum."

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