Cayetano Coll y Cuchí
Encyclopedia
Cayetano Coll y Cuchí was a politician, writer and an advocate of Puerto Rican Independence. In 1917, he became the first President of Puerto Rico House of Representatives after the island was ceded to the United States by Spain as a result of the Spanish-American War
. Coll y Cuchí was a member of a prominent family of Puerto Rican politicians, writers and educators.see: "Notable family members" section
, Puerto Rico
. His father was Cayetano Coll y Toste
, a historian who in 1913 was named the "Official Historian of Puerto Rico" and his mother Adela, was the daughter of José Cuchi y Arnau former mayor of Arecibo. His family sent him to private schools for his primary and secondary education. Coll y Cuchi began his college education in Barcelona, Spain. In 1910, he earned his law degree from a college in Washington, D.C.
. After he earned his degree he returned to the island and established his law practice.
, a major political party
in Puerto Rico
which was founded in February 1904 by Luis Muñoz Rivera
, Rosendo Matienzo Cintrón
, Antonio R. Barceló
, José de Diego
and others after the disbanding of the Federal Party. The party was a supporter of greater self-government for the island, though the party was divided between those in favor of independence
and those favoring statehood
. Coll y Cuchí was successful in the elections of 1908, 1910 and 1914 and represented his party in the Puerto Rican Camera of Delegates.
, presented a project before Congress in which U.S. citizenship would be optional for Puerto Ricans. If the Bill passed Puerto Ricans would have the option of having American citizenship instead of Puerto Rican citizenship
with the condition that those who choose the American citizenship would swear allegiance to the United States. The Bill was also specific in that only the Puerto Ricans with the American citizenship would be allowed to vote in the local elections. The Union Party organized a protest committee which besides Coll y Cuchí included party president Luis Muñoz Rivera
and Eugenio Benitez Castaño. The committee traveled to Washington, D.C. and presented their protest to the measure. The protest was successful and the Bill died in the U.S. Senate floor.
In 1917, after the death of Luis Muñoz Rivera, Antonio R. Barceló
became the leading force behind the liberal ideas of the island. Barceló, José de Diego
and Coll y Cuchí were against the creation of the Jones-Shafroth Act
which would impose United States citizenship
upon the citizens of Puerto Rico because the act represented an impediment to Puerto Rican independence as a final status solution and because the judicial and executive branches would still be controlled by the United States. The Jones-Shafroth Act, however was approved by the United States and signed into law by President Woodrow Wilson
on March 2, 1917. The Union Party under Barceló's leadership then resolved to adopt a different stance and to seek more self autonomy and the right for the people of Puerto Rico to elect their own governor. Barceló believed that this would eventually led to Puerto Rico's independence. De Diego, a strong independence advocate, was prompted by this move to have great differences with the majority of his party members. De Diego was known among his peers as the "Father of the Puerto Rican Independence Movement".
Coll y Cuchí was among those in the party who favored the independence of Puerto Rico. Hostilities between the members who wanted independence and those who favored Statehood for Puerto Rico was evident. Party member Juan Bernardo Huyke
, had previously served as President of a the Camara of Delegates. In 1917, The Camara of Delegates was renamed "The House of Representatives of Puerto Rico". Huyke, who was among the party members who favored Statehood for Puerto Rico, was nominated for a position in the first House of Representatives of Puerto Rico. He left the party before the elections were held because of political differences and was substituted by Coll y Cuchí. In the elections held pn July 6, 1917, Coll y Cuchí and José de Diego were both elected to the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico and Coll y Cuchí was named the first president of said legislative body.
By 1919, Coll y Cuchi's brother, José felt that the Union Party wasn't doing enough for the cause of Puerto Rico and together with some followers departed from the party and formed the Nationalist Association of Puerto Rico in San Juan
. During that time there were two other organizations that were pro-independence, they were the Nationalist Youth and the Independence Association. A fusion of the three political organizations in September 17, 1922, would give birth to the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party
. In which Cayetano's brother José Coll y Cuchí was elected president and José S. Alegría (father of Ricardo Alegria
) vice-president. In 1924 Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos
joined the party and was named vice-president.
to form the Alianza ("Alliance"). This group generally supported autonomy for Puerto Rico. Coll y Cuchí was among this group. In 1927, he wrote and published in a local newspaper a manifesto in regard to his political believes. He proclaimed that it was not practical nor possible for Puerto Rico to ask for admittance as a state of the United States nor for complete independence. He believed that Puerto Rico should become a commonwealth of the United States with a relationship similar to the one which Ireland and Canada had with England. In 1928, he joined the faction in the Alianza which opposed Robert H. Todd, a pro-statehooder, in his quest to run for the position of mayor of San Juan. That sector of the Alianza became known as the "leftist Unionists." Coll y Cuchí wanted the Alianza to embrace the ideals of the "old" Union party which wanted the independence of Puerto Rico.
On August 26, 1929, Coll y Cuchí attended an assembly held in San Juan, in which Antonio R. Barceló was calling for the rebirth of the Union Party. In accordance to their ideals the party was to be allied with the Republican Party of Puerto Rico, thereby making it a stronger party then the Alianza. In 1932, the Alianza party was divided. Those in the party who endorsed Puerto Rican independence were led by Barceló, Coll y Cuchí and Ernesto Ramos Antonini
. However, due to legal issues involved, Barceló's section of the Alianza party was unable to use the name "Union Party" and therefore called themselves the Liberal Party
. The pro-statehood faction, headed by Tous Soto joined with the Socialist Party of Puerto Rico and formed the Republican Union
. Coll y Cuchí was an active member of the governing staff of the Lberal Party.
Coll y Cuchí's father was Dr. Cayetano Coll y Toste
(1850–1930), a historian
and writer
. His brother was José Coll y Cuchí
was the founder of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party
and his daughter Edna Coll
was an educator and author who founded the Academy of Fine Arts in Puerto Rico. His niece Isabel Cuchí Coll
was a journalist
and the Director of the "Sociedad de Autores Puertorriqueño" (Society of Puerto Rican Authors). His grandson, (Edna's son), Jose "Fufi" Santori Coll
was a former BSN basketball player, coach and television sportscaster.
Coll y Cuchí was married to Carmen Josefa Pujol. They had five children, Edna, who became a noted educator, Cayetano, Victor, Margarita and Diana. Coll y Cuchí died in 1961, in SanJuan, Puerto Rico.
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
. Coll y Cuchí was a member of a prominent family of Puerto Rican politicians, writers and educators.see: "Notable family members" section
Early years
Coll y Cuchi was born in AreciboArecibo
Arecibo may refer to:*Arecibo, Puerto Rico, a municipality located by the Atlantic Ocean*Arecibo Observatory, a very sensitive radio telescope located approximately south-southwest from the city of Arecibo...
, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. His father was Cayetano Coll y Toste
Cayetano Coll y Toste
Dr. Cayetano Coll y Toste , was a Puerto Rican historian and writer. He was the patriach of a prominent family of Puerto Rican, educators, politicians and writers.-Early years:...
, a historian who in 1913 was named the "Official Historian of Puerto Rico" and his mother Adela, was the daughter of José Cuchi y Arnau former mayor of Arecibo. His family sent him to private schools for his primary and secondary education. Coll y Cuchi began his college education in Barcelona, Spain. In 1910, he earned his law degree from a college in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. After he earned his degree he returned to the island and established his law practice.
Political career
Cayetano Coll y Cuchí was a member of the Union Party of Puerto RicoUnion of Puerto Rico
The Union of Puerto Rico , also known as the Union Party, was a major political party in Puerto Rico.The UPR was founded in February 1904 by Luis Muñoz Rivera, Rosendo Matienzo Cintrón, Antonio R. Barceló, José de Diego and others after the disbanding of the Federal Party...
, a major political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
which was founded in February 1904 by Luis Muñoz Rivera
Luis Muñoz Rivera
Luis Muñoz Rivera was a Puerto Rican poet, journalist and politician. He was a major figure in the struggle for political autonomy of Puerto Rico....
, Rosendo Matienzo Cintrón
Rosendo Matienzo Cintrón
Rosendo Matienzo Cintrón was a lawyer, a member of the Puerto Rican House of Representatives, and a lifelong political contrarian. He favored Puerto Rican autonomy when Puerto Rico was a Spanish colony. After the Spanish-American War, when the island was ceded to the United States, he advocated...
, Antonio R. Barceló
Antonio R. Barceló
Antonio Rafael Barceló y Martinez was a lawyer, businessman and the patriarch of what was to become one of Puerto Rico's most prominent political families...
, José de Diego
José de Diego
José de Diego y Martínez , known as "The Father of the Puerto Rican Independence Movement", was a statesman, journalist, poet, lawyer, and advocate for Puerto Rico's independence from Spain and from the United States....
and others after the disbanding of the Federal Party. The party was a supporter of greater self-government for the island, though the party was divided between those in favor of independence
Puerto Rican independence movement
The Puerto Rican independence movement refers to initiatives throughout the history of Puerto Rico aimed at obtaining independence for the Island, first from Spain, and then from the United States...
and those favoring statehood
51st state
The 51st state, in United States political discourse, is a phrase that refers to areas either seriously or derisively considered candidates for addition to the 50 states already part of the United States. Before 1959, when Alaska and Hawaii joined the U.S., the term "the 49th state" was used...
. Coll y Cuchí was successful in the elections of 1908, 1910 and 1914 and represented his party in the Puerto Rican Camera of Delegates.
Union Party of Puerto Rico
On February 7, 1910, U.S. Congressman Marlin E. Olmsted, who at the time served as Chairman of the United States House Committee on Insular AffairsUnited States House Committee on Insular Affairs
The United States House Committee on Insular Affairs is a defunct committee of the U.S. House of Representatives.The Treaty of Paris, signed on December 10, 1898, officially concluded the Spanish-American War. According to the provisions of the treaty, Spain ceded the Philippine Islands, Puerto...
, presented a project before Congress in which U.S. citizenship would be optional for Puerto Ricans. If the Bill passed Puerto Ricans would have the option of having American citizenship instead of Puerto Rican citizenship
Puerto Rican citizenship
Puerto Rican citizenship was first legislated by the U.S. Congress in Article 7 of the Foraker Act of 1900 and later recognized by the Puerto Rican constitution...
with the condition that those who choose the American citizenship would swear allegiance to the United States. The Bill was also specific in that only the Puerto Ricans with the American citizenship would be allowed to vote in the local elections. The Union Party organized a protest committee which besides Coll y Cuchí included party president Luis Muñoz Rivera
Luis Muñoz Rivera
Luis Muñoz Rivera was a Puerto Rican poet, journalist and politician. He was a major figure in the struggle for political autonomy of Puerto Rico....
and Eugenio Benitez Castaño. The committee traveled to Washington, D.C. and presented their protest to the measure. The protest was successful and the Bill died in the U.S. Senate floor.
In 1917, after the death of Luis Muñoz Rivera, Antonio R. Barceló
Antonio R. Barceló
Antonio Rafael Barceló y Martinez was a lawyer, businessman and the patriarch of what was to become one of Puerto Rico's most prominent political families...
became the leading force behind the liberal ideas of the island. Barceló, José de Diego
José de Diego
José de Diego y Martínez , known as "The Father of the Puerto Rican Independence Movement", was a statesman, journalist, poet, lawyer, and advocate for Puerto Rico's independence from Spain and from the United States....
and Coll y Cuchí were against the creation of the Jones-Shafroth Act
Jones-Shafroth Act
The Jones–Shafroth Act was a 1917 Act of the United States Congress by which Puerto Ricans were collectively made U.S. citizens, the people of Puerto Rico were empowered to have a popularly-elected Senate, established a bill of rights, and authorized the election of a Resident Commissioner to a...
which would impose United States citizenship
Citizenship
Citizenship is the state of being a citizen of a particular social, political, national, or human resource community. Citizenship status, under social contract theory, carries with it both rights and responsibilities...
upon the citizens of Puerto Rico because the act represented an impediment to Puerto Rican independence as a final status solution and because the judicial and executive branches would still be controlled by the United States. The Jones-Shafroth Act, however was approved by the United States and signed into law by President Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
on March 2, 1917. The Union Party under Barceló's leadership then resolved to adopt a different stance and to seek more self autonomy and the right for the people of Puerto Rico to elect their own governor. Barceló believed that this would eventually led to Puerto Rico's independence. De Diego, a strong independence advocate, was prompted by this move to have great differences with the majority of his party members. De Diego was known among his peers as the "Father of the Puerto Rican Independence Movement".
Coll y Cuchí was among those in the party who favored the independence of Puerto Rico. Hostilities between the members who wanted independence and those who favored Statehood for Puerto Rico was evident. Party member Juan Bernardo Huyke
Juan Bernardo Huyke
Juan Bernardo Huyke served as interim Governor of Puerto Rico several months in 1923.-Background:Huyke was born in Arroyo, Puerto Rico on June 11, 1880. He was the son of Don Enrique Huyke and Doña Carmen Bozello. He was an attorney, writer, publisher, educator, and statesman. He served as...
, had previously served as President of a the Camara of Delegates. In 1917, The Camara of Delegates was renamed "The House of Representatives of Puerto Rico". Huyke, who was among the party members who favored Statehood for Puerto Rico, was nominated for a position in the first House of Representatives of Puerto Rico. He left the party before the elections were held because of political differences and was substituted by Coll y Cuchí. In the elections held pn July 6, 1917, Coll y Cuchí and José de Diego were both elected to the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico and Coll y Cuchí was named the first president of said legislative body.
By 1919, Coll y Cuchi's brother, José felt that the Union Party wasn't doing enough for the cause of Puerto Rico and together with some followers departed from the party and formed the Nationalist Association of Puerto Rico in San Juan
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
. During that time there were two other organizations that were pro-independence, they were the Nationalist Youth and the Independence Association. A fusion of the three political organizations in September 17, 1922, would give birth to the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party
Puerto Rican Nationalist Party
The Puerto Rican Nationalist Party was founded on September 17, 1922. Its main objective is to work for Puerto Rican Independence.In 1919, José Coll y Cuchí, a member of the Union Party of Puerto Rico, felt that the Union Party was not doing enough for the cause of Puerto Rican independence and he...
. In which Cayetano's brother José Coll y Cuchí was elected president and José S. Alegría (father of Ricardo Alegria
Ricardo Alegría
Ricardo Alegría was a Puerto Rican scholar, cultural anthropologist and archeologist known as the "Father of Modern Puerto Rican Archaeology".-Early years:...
) vice-president. In 1924 Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos
Pedro Albizu Campos
Don Pedro Albizu Campos was a Puerto Rican politician and one of the leading figures in the Puerto Rican independence movement. He was the leader and president of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party from 1930 until his death...
joined the party and was named vice-president.
Alianza Party of Puerto Rico
In 1924, the Union Party joined with dissident members of the Republican PartyRepublican Party (Puerto Rico)
The Republican Party is a political party in Puerto Rico, and the affiliate of the national Republican Party of United States. The party supports statehood for the island. Carlos Méndez, the Mayor of Aguadilla, is the local chairman and the party is based in San Juan, Puerto Rico.Luis G...
to form the Alianza ("Alliance"). This group generally supported autonomy for Puerto Rico. Coll y Cuchí was among this group. In 1927, he wrote and published in a local newspaper a manifesto in regard to his political believes. He proclaimed that it was not practical nor possible for Puerto Rico to ask for admittance as a state of the United States nor for complete independence. He believed that Puerto Rico should become a commonwealth of the United States with a relationship similar to the one which Ireland and Canada had with England. In 1928, he joined the faction in the Alianza which opposed Robert H. Todd, a pro-statehooder, in his quest to run for the position of mayor of San Juan. That sector of the Alianza became known as the "leftist Unionists." Coll y Cuchí wanted the Alianza to embrace the ideals of the "old" Union party which wanted the independence of Puerto Rico.
On August 26, 1929, Coll y Cuchí attended an assembly held in San Juan, in which Antonio R. Barceló was calling for the rebirth of the Union Party. In accordance to their ideals the party was to be allied with the Republican Party of Puerto Rico, thereby making it a stronger party then the Alianza. In 1932, the Alianza party was divided. Those in the party who endorsed Puerto Rican independence were led by Barceló, Coll y Cuchí and Ernesto Ramos Antonini
Ernesto Ramos Antonini
Ernesto Ramos Antonini was the President of the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico and co-founder of the Partido Popular Democrático de Puerto Rico .-Early years:...
. However, due to legal issues involved, Barceló's section of the Alianza party was unable to use the name "Union Party" and therefore called themselves the Liberal Party
Liberal Party (Puerto Rico)
The Liberal Party of Puerto Rico was a pro-independence political party. The Liberal Party was founded in 1932 as a formal disaffiliation between two political parties which composed the political coalition known as the Alianza ....
. The pro-statehood faction, headed by Tous Soto joined with the Socialist Party of Puerto Rico and formed the Republican Union
Republican Union
The Republican Union was a pro-statehood political party in Puerto Rico.The Republican Union was founded in 1932 from the merging of the Pure Republican Party and the conservative wing of the Alianza...
. Coll y Cuchí was an active member of the governing staff of the Lberal Party.
Notable family members
Cayetano Coll y Toste
Dr. Cayetano Coll y Toste , was a Puerto Rican historian and writer. He was the patriach of a prominent family of Puerto Rican, educators, politicians and writers.-Early years:...
(1850–1930), a historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
and writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
. His brother was José Coll y Cuchí
José Coll y Cuchí
José Coll y Cuchi was a lawyer, writer and the founder of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party. He was a member of a prominent Puerto Rican family of politicians, educators and writers See: "Notable family members" section .-Early years:Coll y Cuchi was born in Arecibo, Puerto Rico...
was the founder of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party
Puerto Rican Nationalist Party
The Puerto Rican Nationalist Party was founded on September 17, 1922. Its main objective is to work for Puerto Rican Independence.In 1919, José Coll y Cuchí, a member of the Union Party of Puerto Rico, felt that the Union Party was not doing enough for the cause of Puerto Rican independence and he...
and his daughter Edna Coll
Edna Coll
Dr. Edna Coll was an educator and author. Coll, who came from a prominent family of Puerto Rican politicians and writers,See: "Notable family members" section was President of the Society of Puerto Rican Authors in San Juan...
was an educator and author who founded the Academy of Fine Arts in Puerto Rico. His niece Isabel Cuchí Coll
Isabel Cuchí Coll
Isabel Cuchí Coll was a journalist, author and the Director of the "Sociedad de Autores Puertorriqueño"...
was a journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and the Director of the "Sociedad de Autores Puertorriqueño" (Society of Puerto Rican Authors). His grandson, (Edna's son), Jose "Fufi" Santori Coll
Fufi Santori
Jose Santori Coll , better known as Fufi Santori, is a well known former BSN basketball player, coach and television sportscaster. He was also a physical education, basketball and tennis instructor at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez for close to thirty years...
was a former BSN basketball player, coach and television sportscaster.
Written work
"Selección de leyendas puertorriqueñas del Dr. Cayetano Coll y Toste"; by: Cayetano Coll y Cuchi; Published by Orion in México; Open Library OL22190895MLater years
Among the Bills which he introduced to the Puerto Rican legislature and which were passed was the measure which established the first school for the blind in Puerto Rico. Coll y Cuchí received many awards from the Institute of Puerto Rican Literature for his journalistic work, plus he was also awarded the "Legion of Honor" by the French government.Coll y Cuchí was married to Carmen Josefa Pujol. They had five children, Edna, who became a noted educator, Cayetano, Victor, Margarita and Diana. Coll y Cuchí died in 1961, in SanJuan, Puerto Rico.
See also
- List of Puerto Ricans
- History of Puerto RicoHistory of Puerto RicoThe history of Puerto Rico began with the settlement of the archipelago of Puerto Rico by the Ortoiroid people between 3000 and 2000 BC. Other tribes, such as the Saladoid and Arawak Indians, populated the island between 430 BC and 1000 AD. At the time of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the New...