Lisandro de la Torre
Encyclopedia
Lisandro de la Torre was an Argentine
politician
, born in Rosario
, province
of Santa Fe
.
De la Torre became a lawyer in 1890. His thesis about municipalities
and communes, as well as other works of his, gave rise to the idea of municipal autonomy in Argentina, which was included in the Argentine Constitution
in the 1994 reform
. In 1898 he founded the newspaper La República ("The Republic") in Rosario.
(Unión Cívica Radical, UCR) under the leadership of Leandro Alem
, de la Torre abandoned the party in 1897 due to disagreement with the new leader, Hipólito Yrigoyen
. Later, in 1908, he was part of the founding group of the Southern League (Liga del Sur), a local party. In 1911 he was elected for the provincial legislature representing the San Lorenzo Department
; in 1912 he became a representative of Santa Fe (diputado) for the Southern League in the lower house
of the National Congress
.
On 14 December 1914 de la Torre took part of the constitutive assembly of the Democratic Progressist Party
(Partido Demócrata Progresista, PDP) at the Hotel Savoy, Buenos Aires. The new party appointed him the presidential candidate for the 1916 elections, with Alejandro Carbó as the vice-president. The PDP was defeated by the UCR's candidate (H. Yrigoyen). De la Torre lost also the 1919 elections where he had presented as candidate for senator
representing the city of Buenos Aires.
De la Torre's PDP participated in the shaping of a new provincial constitution for Santa Fe, in 1921, which was considered modern and progressive for the time, but ended up being veto
ed by the Radical governor Enrique Mosca.
De la Torre was elected national representative for Santa Fe in 1922. In 1925, however, he announced his retirement from active politics. In 1928 the PDP was overwhelmingly defeated in the province, which moved the wannabe-governor Francisco Correa to exclaim, "We are too few to win, but too many to disappear". In 1931 the PDP entered the Democratic-Socialist Alliance, which appointed De la Torre and Nicolás Repetto for the presidential elections
, but they were defeated by Agustín Pedro Justo
and Julio Argentino Roca, Jr.
.
. In 1935 he initiated an investigation on the meat trade, which had been previously attempted without success by his fellow party member Julio Noble. In the midst of the investigation, de la Torre's disciple, senator elect Enzo Bordabehere
, was murdered by Ramón Valdez Cora, and the province of Santa Fe was intervened. The bullet that killed Bordabehere, it is said, was destined for de la Torre. Valdez Cora was sentenced to 20 years of prison, of which he served 18. He was released in 1953, but died shortly thereafter, 18 months later. The murder was depicted by Juan José Jusid
's 1984 film, Asesinato en el Senado de la Nación
.
The debate had been caused by a number of protectionist
laws, destined to protect the prices of grains, beef, wine, etc. De la Torre and two ministers exchanged insults, until eventually the senator was challenged to a duel
. He accepted the challenge of Federico Pinedo, Minister of Finance, but refused the duel with the Minister of Agriculture, Luis Duhau, since he did not consider Duhau a gentleman. Pinedo shot to kill, but missed, and de la Torre missed deliberately, so neither was injured, but reconciliation never came. De la Torre was a member of the Senate until 1937.
on 5 January 1939, in Buenos Aires
. His ashes are now in an urn, buried in the El Salvador Cemetery of Rosario.
The Julio Marc Historical Museum, also in Rosario, displays a reproduction of de la Torre's residence in 22 Esmeralda St. of Buenos Aires, with the original furniture.
A meatpacking plant in Buenos Aires, famously the site of a major labor conflict in 1959, was named after him.
Today, a barrio
(neighbourhood) in the north-east of the city (Barrio Lisandro de la Torre
, also known as Arroyito, the home of the Rosario Central
football
club) carries his name, as well as a one-block street in the southern region, and many streets and avenues throughout Argentina.
A movie filmed in 1984, called Asesinato en el senado de la nación
, dramatized the final days before the murder of Enzo Bordavere. De la Torre was portrayed by Pepe Soriano
; the movie was directed by Juan José Jusid
.
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, born in Rosario
Rosario
Rosario is the largest city in the province of Santa Fe, Argentina. It is located northwest of Buenos Aires, on the western shore of the Paraná River and has 1,159,004 residents as of the ....
, province
Provinces of Argentina
Argentina is subdivided into twenty-three provinces and one autonomous city...
of Santa Fe
Santa Fe Province
The Invincible Province of Santa Fe, in Spanish Provincia Invencible de Santa Fe , is a province of Argentina, located in the center-east of the country. Neighboring provinces are from the north clockwise Chaco , Corrientes, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires, Córdoba, and Santiago del Estero...
.
De la Torre became a lawyer in 1890. His thesis about municipalities
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
and communes, as well as other works of his, gave rise to the idea of municipal autonomy in Argentina, which was included in the Argentine Constitution
Constitution of Argentina
The constitution of Argentina is one of the primary sources of existing law in Argentina. Its first version was written in 1853 by a Constitutional Assembly gathered in Santa Fe, and the doctrinal basis was taken in part from the United States Constitution...
in the 1994 reform
1994 reform of the Argentine Constitution
The 1994 amendment to the Constitution of Argentina was approved on 22 August by a Constitutional Assembly that met in the twin cities of Santa Fe and Paraná...
. In 1898 he founded the newspaper La República ("The Republic") in Rosario.
Beginnings in politics
A member of the Radical Civic UnionRadical 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...
(Unión Cívica Radical, UCR) under the leadership of Leandro Alem
Leandro Alem
Leandro Nicéforo Alem was an Argentine politician, born in Buenos Aires, a founder and leader of the Radical Civic Union. Alem was the uncle and political teacher of Hipólito Yrigoyen. His father, was the chief of Rosas' political police, the Mazorca. He was executed after the battle of Caseros...
, de la Torre abandoned the party in 1897 due to disagreement with the new leader, 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...
. Later, in 1908, he was part of the founding group of the Southern League (Liga del Sur), a local party. In 1911 he was elected for the provincial legislature representing the San Lorenzo Department
San Lorenzo Department
The San Lorenzo Department is an administrative subdivision of the . It is located in the south of the province...
; in 1912 he became a representative of Santa Fe (diputado) for the Southern League in the lower house
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....
of the National Congress
Argentine National Congress
The Congress of the Argentine Nation is the legislative branch of the government of Argentina. Its composition is bicameral, constituted by a 72-seat Senate and a 257-seat Chamber of Deputies....
.
On 14 December 1914 de la Torre took part of the constitutive assembly of the Democratic Progressist Party
Democratic Progressive Party (Argentina)
The Democratic Progressive Party is a provincial political party in Santa Fe, Argentina. It was founded by Lisandro de la Torre at the Savoy Hotel in Buenos Aires on December 14, 1914. One of its founders was the academic Dr...
(Partido Demócrata Progresista, PDP) at the Hotel Savoy, Buenos Aires. The new party appointed him the presidential candidate for the 1916 elections, with Alejandro Carbó as the vice-president. The PDP was defeated by the UCR's candidate (H. Yrigoyen). De la Torre lost also the 1919 elections where he had presented as candidate for senator
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...
representing the city of Buenos Aires.
De la Torre's PDP participated in the shaping of a new provincial constitution for Santa Fe, in 1921, which was considered modern and progressive for the time, but ended up being veto
Veto
A veto, Latin for "I forbid", is the power of an officer of the state to unilaterally stop an official action, especially enactment of a piece of legislation...
ed by the Radical governor Enrique Mosca.
De la Torre was elected national representative for Santa Fe in 1922. In 1925, however, he announced his retirement from active politics. In 1928 the PDP was overwhelmingly defeated in the province, which moved the wannabe-governor Francisco Correa to exclaim, "We are too few to win, but too many to disappear". In 1931 the PDP entered the Democratic-Socialist Alliance, which appointed De la Torre and Nicolás Repetto for the presidential elections
Argentine presidential election, 1931
The Argentine presidential election of 1931 was held on 8 November. With a turnout of 73.4%, it produced the following official results: aAbstentions.-Argentine Chamber of Deputies:-Argentine Senate:-Background:...
, but they were defeated by Agustín Pedro Justo
Agustín Pedro Justo
General Agustín Pedro Justo Rolón was President of Argentina from February 20, 1932, to February 20, 1938...
and Julio Argentino Roca, Jr.
Julio Argentino Roca, Jr.
Julio Argentino Pascual Roca Funes was an Argentine politician and diplomat.He was born to Clara Funes and General Julio Roca, who would become President of Argentina and dominate national politics for a generation after 1880...
.
Work in the National Senate
In 1932 the PDP met triumph again, when Luciano Molinas became the governor of Santa Fe. At the same time, de la Torre became a national senatorArgentine 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...
. In 1935 he initiated an investigation on the meat trade, which had been previously attempted without success by his fellow party member Julio Noble. In the midst of the investigation, de la Torre's disciple, senator elect Enzo Bordabehere
Enzo Bordabehere
Enzo Bordabehere was an Argentine lawyer and politician. He was a National Senator for Santa Fe Province, and was assassinated in Congress during a session in the Argentine Senate.- Biography :...
, was murdered by Ramón Valdez Cora, and the province of Santa Fe was intervened. The bullet that killed Bordabehere, it is said, was destined for de la Torre. Valdez Cora was sentenced to 20 years of prison, of which he served 18. He was released in 1953, but died shortly thereafter, 18 months later. The murder was depicted by Juan José Jusid
Juan José Jusid
Juan José Jusid is an Argentine film director and screenwriter.He started his professional career as an actor, Puppeteer and stage photographer in the 1960s then switched to film studies at the Association of Short Film Directors.He turned director and screenwriter in 1968 and has directed...
's 1984 film, Asesinato en el Senado de la Nación
Asesinato en el Senado de la Nación
Asesinato en el senado de la nación is a 1984 Argentine historical crime drama film directed by Juan José Jusid and written by Carlos Somigliana. The film starred José Soriano, Miguel Ángel Solá and Oscar Martínez and premiered on 13 September 1984 in Buenos Aires...
.
The debate had been caused by a number of protectionist
Protectionism
Protectionism is the economic policy of restraining trade between states through methods such as tariffs on imported goods, restrictive quotas, and a variety of other government regulations designed to allow "fair competition" between imports and goods and services produced domestically.This...
laws, destined to protect the prices of grains, beef, wine, etc. De la Torre and two ministers exchanged insults, until eventually the senator was challenged to a duel
Duel
A duel is an arranged engagement in combat between two individuals, with matched weapons in accordance with agreed-upon rules.Duels in this form were chiefly practised in Early Modern Europe, with precedents in the medieval code of chivalry, and continued into the modern period especially among...
. He accepted the challenge of Federico Pinedo, Minister of Finance, but refused the duel with the Minister of Agriculture, Luis Duhau, since he did not consider Duhau a gentleman. Pinedo shot to kill, but missed, and de la Torre missed deliberately, so neither was injured, but reconciliation never came. De la Torre was a member of the Senate until 1937.
De la Torre's death and legacy
Overwhelmed by his economic problems, Lisandro de la Torre committed suicideSuicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
on 5 January 1939, in 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...
. His ashes are now in an urn, buried in the El Salvador Cemetery of Rosario.
The Julio Marc Historical Museum, also in Rosario, displays a reproduction of de la Torre's residence in 22 Esmeralda St. of Buenos Aires, with the original furniture.
A meatpacking plant in Buenos Aires, famously the site of a major labor conflict in 1959, was named after him.
Today, a barrio
Barrio
Barrio is a Spanish word meaning district or neighborhood.-Usage:In its formal usage in English, barrios are generally considered cohesive places, sharing, for example, a church and traditions such as feast days...
(neighbourhood) in the north-east of the city (Barrio Lisandro de la Torre
Barrio Lisandro de la Torre
Lisandro de la Torre is a barrio in the north-east of Rosario, Argentina. It carries the name of a renowned local politician, Lisandro de la Torre , but is most commonly referred to as Arroyito....
, also known as Arroyito, the home of the Rosario Central
Rosario Central
Club Atlético Rosario Central is a sports club based in Rosario, Argentina. Its football team currently plays in the Primera B Nacional, the second tier of the Argentine football league system, after being relegated in the 2009-10 season....
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
club) carries his name, as well as a one-block street in the southern region, and many streets and avenues throughout Argentina.
A movie filmed in 1984, called Asesinato en el senado de la nación
Asesinato en el Senado de la Nación
Asesinato en el senado de la nación is a 1984 Argentine historical crime drama film directed by Juan José Jusid and written by Carlos Somigliana. The film starred José Soriano, Miguel Ángel Solá and Oscar Martínez and premiered on 13 September 1984 in Buenos Aires...
, dramatized the final days before the murder of Enzo Bordavere. De la Torre was portrayed by Pepe Soriano
Pepe Soriano
Pepe Soriano is a prominent Argentine actor and playwright.-Life and work:Soriano was born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina...
; the movie was directed by Juan José Jusid
Juan José Jusid
Juan José Jusid is an Argentine film director and screenwriter.He started his professional career as an actor, Puppeteer and stage photographer in the 1960s then switched to film studies at the Association of Short Film Directors.He turned director and screenwriter in 1968 and has directed...
.