Ángel Dolores Rojas
Encyclopedia
Ángel Dolores Rojas was an Argentine lawyer and politician.
. The son of a prominent local family, he earned a law degree at the University of Buenos Aires
in 1875. He returned to San Juan, serving as attorney for the Argentine Great Western Railway
, the Transandine Railway, and the National Mortgage Bank
. He also served as a defense attorney in the provincial juvenile court
s and in the 1878 convention that approved a series of amendments to the San Juan Constitution.
He was elected to the Argentine Chamber of Deputies
in 1879, and was appointed Economy Minister for San Juan Province by interim Governor Juan Luis Sarmiento during his 1881-84 term. He later served as Director of the National Patent Office and wrote numerous academic papers in subsequent decades, including a biographical sketch of Fray Justo de Santa María de Oro
(1897), and Estudios de derecho procesal argentino (Studies on Due Process
in Argentine Law
), published in a Buenos Aires
journal La Semana Médica, in 1911.
The first elections for governor in the agrarian Province of San Juan following the 1912 federal enactment of the Sáenz Peña Law
(which guaranteed certain voter rights, such as the secret ballot
and universal male suffrage) led to the establishment of the Civic Concentration (CC). A conservative party, the CC supported the national administration, which since 1874 had been controlled by the landowner-oriented National Autonomist Party
(PAN). The CC nominated Rojas and running mate César Aguilar, who in elections held on January 4, 1914, wrested the Governor's post from the Popular Party (in power locally since 1907); Vice-Governor Aguilar died suddenly on August 5.
The presidential campaign season, which began during 1915, centered around the contest between the party whose activism had led to electoral reform
, the Radical Civic Union
(UCR), and those who supported the present regime. Following a schism in the party in 1908, the PAN itself had been replaced by the Conservative Party. Led by the powerful Governor of Buenos Aires Province
, Marcelino Ugarte, the latter's power and position as Governor of the nation's largest province themselves, in turn, became a liability, and the party instead nominated Rojas for President, and Mendoza
vintner
Juan Serú, for Vice-President.
The popularity of the UCR nominee, Hipólito Yrigoyen
, and serious shortages of goods and capital as a result of World War I
both undermined the Conservatives, whose strategists counted on a deadlock in the electoral college
to translate favorably for the Rojas-Serú ticket (such as deadlock would necessitate the election of the presidential by Congress, where Conservatives retained majorities). Ultimately, however, Yrigoyen secured a narrow majority in the college, and Rojas was defeated.
Following the 1916 election, he was elected to the Argentine Senate
by the Provincial Legislature. Serving as the Civic Concentration's sole Senator, Ángel Rojas died in San Juan on December 16, 1918, at age 67.
Life and times
Rojas was born and raised in San Juan ProvinceSan Juan Province (Argentina)
San Juan is a province of Argentina, located in the western part of the country. Neighbouring provinces are, moving clockwise from the north, La Rioja, San Luis and Mendoza. It borders with Chile at the west....
. The son of a prominent local family, he earned a law degree at the University of Buenos Aires
University of Buenos Aires
The University of Buenos Aires is the largest university in Argentina and the largest university by enrollment in Latin America. Founded on August 12, 1821 in the city of Buenos Aires, it consists of 13 faculties, 6 hospitals, 10 museums and is linked to 4 high schools: Colegio Nacional de Buenos...
in 1875. He returned to San Juan, serving as attorney for the Argentine Great Western Railway
Argentine Great Western Railway
The Argentine Great Western Railway was a British-owned railway company, founded in 1887, that operated a broad gauge, , railway network in the Argentine provinces of San Luis, San Juan and Mendoza...
, the Transandine Railway, and the National Mortgage Bank
Banco Hipotecario
Banco Hipotecario is an important commercial bank in Argentina and the nation's premier mortgage lender.-Overview:The institution was chartered on September 24, 1886, as the Banco Hipotecario Nacional by a bill signed by President Julio Roca...
. He also served as a defense attorney in the provincial juvenile court
Juvenile court
A juvenile court is a tribunal having special authority to try and pass judgments for crimes committed by children or adolescents who have not attained the age of majority...
s and in the 1878 convention that approved a series of amendments to the San Juan Constitution.
He was elected to the Argentine Chamber of Deputies
Argentine Chamber of Deputies
The Chamber of Deputies is the lower house of the Argentine National Congress. This Chamber holds exclusive rights to create taxes, to draft troops, and to accuse the President, the ministers and the members of the Supreme Court before the Senate....
in 1879, and was appointed Economy Minister for San Juan Province by interim Governor Juan Luis Sarmiento during his 1881-84 term. He later served as Director of the National Patent Office and wrote numerous academic papers in subsequent decades, including a biographical sketch of Fray Justo de Santa María de Oro
Justo de Santa María de Oro
Justo de Santa María de Oro y Albarracín was an Argentine statesman and bishop. He was an influential representative in the Congress of Tucumán, which on 9 July 1816, declared the Independence of Argentina....
(1897), and Estudios de derecho procesal argentino (Studies on Due Process
Due process
Due process is the legal code that the state must venerate all of the legal rights that are owed to a person under the principle. Due process balances the power of the state law of the land and thus protects individual persons from it...
in Argentine Law
Law of Argentina
The Legal system of Argentina is a Civil law legal system. The two pillars of the Civil system are the Constitution of Argentina and the Civil Code of Argentina ....
), published in a Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
journal La Semana Médica, in 1911.
The first elections for governor in the agrarian Province of San Juan following the 1912 federal enactment of the Sáenz Peña Law
Sáenz Peña Law
The Sáenz Peña Law was Law 8871 of Argentina, sanctioned by the National Congress on 10 February 1912, which established the universal, secret and mandatory male suffrage though the creation of an electoral list...
(which guaranteed certain voter rights, such as the secret ballot
Secret ballot
The secret ballot is a voting method in which a voter's choices in an election or a referendum are anonymous. The key aim is to ensure the voter records a sincere choice by forestalling attempts to influence the voter by intimidation or bribery. The system is one means of achieving the goal of...
and universal male suffrage) led to the establishment of the Civic Concentration (CC). A conservative party, the CC supported the national administration, which since 1874 had been controlled by the landowner-oriented National Autonomist Party
National Autonomist Party
The National Autonomist Party was an Argentine political party during the 1874-1916 period. Created on March 15, 1874 by the union of the Autonomist Party of Adolfo Alsina and the National Party of Nicolás Avellaneda...
(PAN). The CC nominated Rojas and running mate César Aguilar, who in elections held on January 4, 1914, wrested the Governor's post from the Popular Party (in power locally since 1907); Vice-Governor Aguilar died suddenly on August 5.
The presidential campaign season, which began during 1915, centered around the contest between the party whose activism had led to electoral reform
Electoral reform
Electoral reform is change in electoral systems to improve how public desires are expressed in election results. That can include reforms of:...
, the Radical Civic Union
Radical Civic Union
The Radical Civic Union is a political party in Argentina. The party's positions on issues range from liberal to social democratic. The UCR is a member of the Socialist International. Founded in 1891 by radical liberals, it is the oldest political party active in Argentina...
(UCR), and those who supported the present regime. Following a schism in the party in 1908, the PAN itself had been replaced by the Conservative Party. Led by the powerful Governor of Buenos Aires Province
Buenos Aires Province
The Province of Buenos Aires is the largest and most populous province of Argentina. It takes the name from the city of Buenos Aires, which used to be the provincial capital until it was federalized in 1880...
, Marcelino Ugarte, the latter's power and position as Governor of the nation's largest province themselves, in turn, became a liability, and the party instead nominated Rojas for President, and Mendoza
Mendoza Province
The Province of Mendoza is a province of Argentina, located in the western central part of the country in the Cuyo region. It borders to the north with San Juan, the south with La Pampa and Neuquén, the east with San Luis, and to the west with the republic of Chile; the international limit is...
vintner
Argentine wine
The Argentine wine industry is the fifth largest producer of wine in the world. Argentine wine, as with some aspects of Argentine cuisine, has its roots in Spain...
Juan Serú, for Vice-President.
The popularity of the UCR nominee, Hipólito Yrigoyen
Hipólito Yrigoyen
Juan Hipólito del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús Irigoyen Alem was twice President of Argentina . His activism became the prime impetus behind the obtainment of universal suffrage in Argentina in 1912...
, and serious shortages of goods and capital as a result of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
both undermined the Conservatives, whose strategists counted on a deadlock in the electoral college
Electoral college
An electoral college is a set of electors who are selected to elect a candidate to a particular office. Often these represent different organizations or entities, with each organization or entity represented by a particular number of electors or with votes weighted in a particular way...
to translate favorably for the Rojas-Serú ticket (such as deadlock would necessitate the election of the presidential by Congress, where Conservatives retained majorities). Ultimately, however, Yrigoyen secured a narrow majority in the college, and Rojas was defeated.
Following the 1916 election, he was elected to the Argentine Senate
Argentine Senate
The Argentine Senate is the upper house of the Argentine National Congress. It has 72 senators: three for each province and three for the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires...
by the Provincial Legislature. Serving as the Civic Concentration's sole Senator, Ángel Rojas died in San Juan on December 16, 1918, at age 67.