Luis Napoleón Morones
Encyclopedia
Luis Napoleón Morones was a Mexican
union
boss who served as secretary general of the Regional Confederation of Mexican Workers
(Confederación Regional Obrera Mexicana, CROM) and as secretary of economy
under President
Plutarco Elías Calles
.
Morones was born in Tlalpan
, a delegación
of the Mexican Federal District, and worked as an electrician
.
During the Revolution
, he supported Venustiano Carranza
. He was an electrician, and joined the Casa del Obrero Munidal in 1913. He founded the "Sindicato Mexicano de Electricistas" (SME, Mexican Syndicate of Electricians) locally in the Mexican Telephone and Telegraph Co. in 1915. From 1916 to 1918, he participated in political and labor organizations and congresses, and by 1920, he was head of the CROM, and helped to broker General
Álvaro Obregón
's accession to the presidency. In 1922, he founded the Mexican Labor Party (Partido Laborista Mexicano PLM) and its organ El Sol, and was elected to the Chamber of Deputies of Mexico
, where his prime role consisted of mediating between the working class and government elites. His cooperation brought him into conflicts with communist
and socialist
elements of the union factions, but Calles rewarded his loyalty by appointing him as the nation's Secretary of Economy in 1924, a post from which he resigned after Obregón's assassination in 1928. After Obregon died, Morones and CROM broke with the Obergon's Mexican Laborist Party. During this time he amassed a fortune, which he flaunted with diamond rings and expensive cars, leading to charges of hypocrisy and corruption. In 1936, Morones was arrested and forced to exile, along Calles and the last remained highly influential callistas in Mexico. He lived in Atlantic City
, NJ, but returned to Mexico years later.
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
boss who served as secretary general of the Regional Confederation of Mexican Workers
Regional Confederation of Mexican Workers
The Confederación Regional Obrera Mexicana is a federation of labor unions in Mexico....
(Confederación Regional Obrera Mexicana, CROM) and as secretary of economy
Secretary of Economy (Mexico)
In Mexico, the Secretariat of Economy is the government department in charge of economic affairs...
under President
President of Mexico
The President of the United Mexican States is the head of state and government of Mexico. Under the Constitution, the president is also the Supreme Commander of the Mexican armed forces...
Plutarco Elías Calles
Plutarco Elías Calles
Plutarco Elías Calles was a Mexican general and politician. He was president of Mexico from 1924 to 1928, but he continued to be the de facto ruler from 1928–1935, a period known as the maximato...
.
Morones was born in Tlalpan
Tlalpan
Tlalpan is one of the sixteen administrative boroughs of the Federal District of Mexico City. It is the largest borough, with over eighty percent under conservation as forest and other ecologically sensitive area. The rest, almost all of it on the northern edge, has been urban since the mid 20th...
, a delegación
Boroughs of the Mexican Federal District
Mexico City — politically and administratively constituted as the Federal District — is divided into sixteen boroughs for administrative purposes. They constitute second-level administrative divisions, on par with the municipalities of Mexico. However, unlike municipalities, they do not have...
of the Mexican Federal District, and worked as an electrician
Electrician
An electrician is a tradesman specializing in electrical wiring of buildings, stationary machines and related equipment. Electricians may be employed in the installation of new electrical components or the maintenance and repair of existing electrical infrastructure. Electricians may also...
.
During the 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...
, he supported 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...
. He was an electrician, and joined the Casa del Obrero Munidal in 1913. He founded the "Sindicato Mexicano de Electricistas" (SME, Mexican Syndicate of Electricians) locally in the Mexican Telephone and Telegraph Co. in 1915. From 1916 to 1918, he participated in political and labor organizations and congresses, and by 1920, he was head of the CROM, and helped to broker General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Álvaro Obregón
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....
's accession to the presidency. In 1922, he founded the Mexican Labor Party (Partido Laborista Mexicano PLM) and its organ El Sol, and was elected to the Chamber of Deputies of Mexico
Chamber of Deputies of Mexico
The Chamber of Deputies is the lower house of the Congress of the Union, Mexico's bicameral legislature. The structure and responsibilities of both chambers of Congress are defined in Articles 50 to 70 of the current constitution.-Composition:The Chamber of Deputies is composed of one federal...
, where his prime role consisted of mediating between the working class and government elites. His cooperation brought him into conflicts with communist
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
and socialist
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
elements of the union factions, but Calles rewarded his loyalty by appointing him as the nation's Secretary of Economy in 1924, a post from which he resigned after Obregón's assassination in 1928. After Obregon died, Morones and CROM broke with the Obergon's Mexican Laborist Party. During this time he amassed a fortune, which he flaunted with diamond rings and expensive cars, leading to charges of hypocrisy and corruption. In 1936, Morones was arrested and forced to exile, along Calles and the last remained highly influential callistas in Mexico. He lived in Atlantic City
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
, NJ, but returned to Mexico years later.