Antonio Díaz Soto y Gama
Encyclopedia
Antonio Diaz Soto y Gama (born in San Luis Potosi
, January 23, 1880 - died Mexico City
, March 14 1967) was a revolutionary during the Mexican Revolution
and Mexican politician.
His parents were Conrad Diaz Soto y Gama and Dona Concepcion Cruz. He studied in San Luis Potosi, first at the Institute of the Immaculate Conception and later at the Literary Institute.
During the early 1900s he was associated with Ricardo Flores Magón
's anarchist group Mexican Liberal Party
(Partido Liberal Mexicano), which was involved in strikes
and uprisings in Mexico from 1906 to 1911. He was also active with the Magon brothers' newspaper El hijo de El Ahuizote. In August 1911, together with Magon he helped co-found the successor party, "Liberal Party
" (Partido Liberal). He was also the secretary and vice president of the Liberal Club "Ponciano Arriaga
" (named after the 19th century lawyer) and was imprisoned by the regime of Porfirio Diaz
for his activities, and later forced into exile
in United States
. While there he published a liberal newspaper in El Paso, Social Reform with an editorial agenda which opposed the Diaz dictatorship.
In 1913 he joined the Zapatista movement of Emiliano Zapata
and played a prominent role at the Convention of Aguascalientes
in 1914. During the convention Soto y Gama's speech and disrespect for the Mexican flag, which he said symbolized the "triumph of clerical reaction", caused a protest from some of the participants, many of whom threatened him by pointing their guns at him. However, his presence at the convention contributed greatly to the adoption of the Zapatista Plan of Ayala
. Since Zapata's backing came mostly from rural campesinos
, Soto y Gama also served as his representative to urban workers, including the anarcho-syndicalist union Casa del Obrero Mundial.
In 1917 he came into conflict with another Zapatista chief, Otilio Montaño Sánchez
and played a role in having Otilio executed. After Zapata's murder in 1919, Soto y Gama continued to advise Zapata's successor, Gildardo Magaña
and eventually joined the movement of Alvaro Obregon
(whom Antonio called "the executor of the ideas of Emiliano Zapata") in opposition to Venustiano Carranza
.
After the revolution he was a member of the Mexican Chamber of Deputies in the Mexican Congress. He was the leader of the "National Agrarian Party" (Partido Nacional Agrarista), which he founded on June 13, 1920. The platform of the party called for redistribution of land to peasants. As a representative of the party he served four terms in the Mexican congress between 1920 and 1928. During the presidency of Lázaro Cárdenas
he served in the Ministry of Agriculture.
In the late 1930's Antonio received a chair in History
and Agricultural Law
at the University of Mexico and also worked as a newspaper columnist.
He passed away in March of 1967, one of the few major figures of the Mexican Revolution to have died a natural death.
San Luis Potosí
San Luis Potosí officially Estado Libre y Soberano de San Luis Potosí is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 58 municipalities and its capital city is San Luis Potosí....
, January 23, 1880 - died Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, March 14 1967) was a revolutionary during the Mexican Revolution
Mexican Revolution
The Mexican Revolution was a major armed struggle that started in 1910, with an uprising led by Francisco I. Madero against longtime autocrat Porfirio Díaz. The Revolution was characterized by several socialist, liberal, anarchist, populist, and agrarianist movements. Over time the Revolution...
and Mexican politician.
His parents were Conrad Diaz Soto y Gama and Dona Concepcion Cruz. He studied in San Luis Potosi, first at the Institute of the Immaculate Conception and later at the Literary Institute.
During the early 1900s he was associated with Ricardo Flores Magón
Ricardo Flores Magón
Cipriano Ricardo Flores Magón was a noted Mexican anarchist and social reform activist. His brothers Enrique and Jesús were also active in politics. Followers of the Magón brothers were known as Magonistas....
's anarchist group Mexican Liberal Party
Mexican Liberal Party
The Mexican Liberal Party was an anarchist group co-founded by Ricardo Flores Magón in 1906, in opposition to the rule of Porfirio Díaz. The MLP was involved in strikes and uprisings in Mexico from 1906 to 1911. The party controlled most parts of Baja California in 1911, including Tijuana,...
(Partido Liberal Mexicano), which was involved in strikes
Strike action
Strike action, also called labour strike, on strike, greve , or simply strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work. A strike usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Strikes became important during the industrial revolution, when mass labour became...
and uprisings in Mexico from 1906 to 1911. He was also active with the Magon brothers' newspaper El hijo de El Ahuizote. In August 1911, together with Magon he helped co-found the successor party, "Liberal Party
Liberal Party (México)
The Liberal Party or the Progress Party was a Mexican political party founded in the early XIX century and involving characters like José María Luis Mora, Benito Juarez and Porfirio Diaz....
" (Partido Liberal). He was also the secretary and vice president of the Liberal Club "Ponciano Arriaga
Ponciano Arriaga
Ponciano Arriaga was a lawyer and politician from San Luis Potosí.Arriaga rose to prominence in the late 1840s and is particularly known for pushing for the equality of people through property rights. Arriaga proposed a law in which the government would confiscate lands from the local hacienda...
" (named after the 19th century lawyer) and was imprisoned by the regime of Porfirio Diaz
Porfirio Díaz
José de la Cruz Porfirio Díaz Mori was a Mexican-American War volunteer and French intervention hero, an accomplished general and the President of Mexico continuously from 1876 to 1911, with the exception of a brief term in 1876 when he left Juan N...
for his activities, and later forced into exile
Exile
Exile means to be away from one's home , while either being explicitly refused permission to return and/or being threatened with imprisonment or death upon return...
in United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. While there he published a liberal newspaper in El Paso, Social Reform with an editorial agenda which opposed the Diaz dictatorship.
Emiliano Zapata
Emiliano Zapata Salazar was a leading figure in the Mexican Revolution, which broke out in 1910, and which was initially directed against the president Porfirio Díaz. He formed and commanded an important revolutionary force, the Liberation Army of the South, during the Mexican Revolution...
and played a prominent role at the Convention of Aguascalientes
Convention of Aguascalientes
The Convention of Aguascalientes was a major meeting that took place during the Mexican Revolution.The call for the Convention was issued on 1 October 1914 by Venustiano Carranza, head of the Constitutional Army, who described it as the Gran Convención de Jefes militares con mando de fuerzas y...
in 1914. During the convention Soto y Gama's speech and disrespect for the Mexican flag, which he said symbolized the "triumph of clerical reaction", caused a protest from some of the participants, many of whom threatened him by pointing their guns at him. However, his presence at the convention contributed greatly to the adoption of the Zapatista Plan of Ayala
Plan of Ayala
The Plan of Ayala was a document drafted by revolutionary leader Emiliano Zapata during the Mexican Revolution. In it, Zapata denounced President Francisco I. Madero for his perceived betrayal of the revolutionary ideals, embodied in Madero's Plan de San Luis, and set out his vision of land reform...
. Since Zapata's backing came mostly from rural campesinos
Farmworker
A farmworker is a person hired to work in the agricultural industry. This includes work on farms of all sizes, from small, family-run businesses to large industrial agriculture operations...
, Soto y Gama also served as his representative to urban workers, including the anarcho-syndicalist union Casa del Obrero Mundial.
In 1917 he came into conflict with another Zapatista chief, Otilio Montaño Sánchez
Otilio Montaño Sánchez
Otilio Montaño Sánchez was a Zapatista general during the Mexican Revolution....
and played a role in having Otilio executed. After Zapata's murder in 1919, Soto y Gama continued to advise Zapata's successor, Gildardo Magaña
Gildardo Magaña
Gildardo Magaña Cerda was a Mexican general, politician and revolutionary.Born on March 7, 1891 in Zamora, Michoacán, to a Liberal trading family and was sent to study economy in the U.S. Back in Mexico he was involved in the anti-reelectionist movement and had to flee to the insurrectionist...
and eventually joined the movement of Alvaro Obregon
Álvaro Obregón
General Álvaro Obregón Salido was the President of Mexico from 1920 to 1924. He was assassinated in 1928, shortly after winning election to another presidential term....
(whom Antonio called "the executor of the ideas of Emiliano Zapata") in opposition to Venustiano Carranza
Venustiano Carranza
Venustiano Carranza de la Garza, was one of the leaders of the Mexican Revolution. He ultimately became President of Mexico following the overthrow of the dictatorial Huerta regime in the summer of 1914 and during his administration the current constitution of Mexico was drafted...
.
After the revolution he was a member of the Mexican Chamber of Deputies in the Mexican Congress. He was the leader of the "National Agrarian Party" (Partido Nacional Agrarista), which he founded on June 13, 1920. The platform of the party called for redistribution of land to peasants. As a representative of the party he served four terms in the Mexican congress between 1920 and 1928. During the presidency of Lázaro Cárdenas
Lázaro Cárdenas
Lázaro Cárdenas del Río was President of Mexico from 1934 to 1940.-Early life:Lázaro Cárdenas was born on May 21, 1895 in a lower-middle class family in the village of Jiquilpan, Michoacán. He supported his family from age 16 after the death of his father...
he served in the Ministry of Agriculture.
In the late 1930's Antonio received a chair in History
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
and Agricultural Law
Agricultural law
Agricultural law, sometimes referred to as Ag Law, deals with law on Agricultural infrastructure, seed, water, fertilizer, pesticide, etc.; Law on agricultural finance, Law on agricultural labour; agricultural marketing; Agricultural insurance, Farming rights, Land tenure and tenancy system and law...
at the University of Mexico and also worked as a newspaper columnist.
He passed away in March of 1967, one of the few major figures of the Mexican Revolution to have died a natural death.