José Néstor Lencinas
Encyclopedia
José Néstor Lencinas was an Argentine politician and former Governor of Mendoza Province
.
, Lencinas enrolled at the University of Buenos Aires
; while in law school, his adviser, Dr. Carlos Tejedor
, recommended he transfer to the University of Córdoba
. Lencinas became active politically at the latter school, and participated in an effort to force the Governor of Córdoba
, Antonio del Viso, to resign (which the latter, a member of one of the province's leading families, did, in 1880). Lencinas earned his Law Degree with a thesis on Constitutional Law
.
Lencinas returned to Mendoza Province, and was shortly afterwards elected to the Provincial Legislature. He stepped down in 1887 to travel extensively in Europe and the United States, at which time he became an adherent of Theosophy
. During his travels, Lencinas reportedly took over the helm of an ocean liner
whose captain had been incapacitated by panic. He returned in 1888, was reelected to the legislature, and in 1890, was named Economy Minister by interim Governor Oseas Guiñazú
. He established a newspaper in the city of Mendoza
, La Reforma, and was a founding member of what became the leading advocacy group for electoral reform and the secret ballot
, the Radical Civic Union
(UCR). Vigorously opposed by the senior Senator from Mendoza, Emilio Civit, these moves led the closure of La Reforma in 1892, and to the province's renewed "intervention" by federal authorities.
Electoral fraud led to a failed civil uprising on the part of the UCR in 1893, and again in 1905. Lencinas participated in both, and became notable for being the only insurrectionist to overthrow a provincial governor during the latter conflict (if only briefly). He avoided jail in the then-notorious Ushuaia
prison, or execution, by fleeing to neighboring Chile
after commandeering a Transandine Railway locomotive. Lencinas, as did surviving fellow participants in the revolt, ultimately benefited from a 1906 pardon by President José Figueroa Alcorta
.
The 1912 passage of the Sáenz Peña Law
, which provided much of the electoral reform the UCR had agitated for, led the election of their longtime leader, Hipólito Yrigoyen
, in 1916. Lencinas was elected to the Lower House of Congress
alongside his son, Carlos, and following President Yrigoyen's decree removing the Conservative governor of Mendoza in November 1917, Lencinas was elected to the post. Taking office on March 6, 1918, he pursued a progressive
agenda for the standards of the day, enacting an ambitious program of labor and social legislation that included an 8-hour workday and a minimum wage (some of the nation's first reforms of their type). These policies put him at odds with not only the landed gentry; but also President Yrigoyen, who sought to maintain cordial relations with the then-agrarian country's powerful landowning elite. Lencinas, instead, believed the latter group was co-opting the UCR by joining its ranks, and advocated for Yrigoyen's break with what he termed "Fair-weather Radicals" (particularly the most prominent of these at the time, the President of the Senate
, Leopoldo Melo
). Following Lencinas' convalescence from a sudden pulmonary illness, Yrigoyen intervened once again, removing the governor on December 24.
The appointed Federal Receiver, Dr. Tomás de Veyga, resigned, however, and his successor, Dr. Perfecto Araya, reinstated Lencinas as governor. The ensuing struggle with Delfín Álvarez, Lencinas' former Vice-Governor and now nemesis, as well as with the Legislature and the courts, proved too much for Lencinas, who died in Mendoza on January 20, 1920. His son, Carlos Washington Lencinas
, was elected governor in 1922.
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...
.
Life and times
Born in San Carlos, MendozaSan Carlos, Mendoza
San Carlos or Villa San Carlos is a town in Mendoza Province, Argentina. It is the head town of San Carlos Department...
, Lencinas enrolled 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...
; while in law school, his adviser, Dr. Carlos Tejedor
Carlos Tejedor
Carlos Tejedor may refer to:*Carlos Tejedor , governor of Buenos Aires *Carlos Tejedor Partido, an administrative district in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina*Carlos Tejedor, Buenos Aires, a city in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina...
, recommended he transfer to the University of Córdoba
National University of Córdoba
The National University of Córdoba, , is the oldest university in Argentina, and one of the oldest in the Americas. It is located in Córdoba, the capital of Córdoba Province. Since the early 20th century it has been the second largest university in the country in terms of the number of students,...
. Lencinas became active politically at the latter school, and participated in an effort to force the Governor of Córdoba
Córdoba Province (Argentina)
Córdoba is a province of Argentina, located in the center of the country. Neighboring provinces are : Santiago del Estero, Santa Fe, Buenos Aires, La Pampa, San Luis, La Rioja and Catamarca...
, Antonio del Viso, to resign (which the latter, a member of one of the province's leading families, did, in 1880). Lencinas earned his Law Degree with a thesis on Constitutional Law
Constitutional law
Constitutional law is the body of law which defines the relationship of different entities within a state, namely, the executive, the legislature and the judiciary....
.
Lencinas returned to Mendoza Province, and was shortly afterwards elected to the Provincial Legislature. He stepped down in 1887 to travel extensively in Europe and the United States, at which time he became an adherent of Theosophy
Theosophy
Theosophy, in its modern presentation, is a spiritual philosophy developed since the late 19th century. Its major themes were originally described mainly by Helena Blavatsky , co-founder of the Theosophical Society...
. During his travels, Lencinas reportedly took over the helm of an ocean liner
Ocean liner
An ocean liner is a ship designed to transport people from one seaport to another along regular long-distance maritime routes according to a schedule. Liners may also carry cargo or mail, and may sometimes be used for other purposes .Cargo vessels running to a schedule are sometimes referred to as...
whose captain had been incapacitated by panic. He returned in 1888, was reelected to the legislature, and in 1890, was named Economy Minister by interim Governor Oseas Guiñazú
Oseas Guiñazú
Oseas Guiñazú Estrella was an Argentine politician of the late 19th century. He served as interim governor of Mendoza Province from 1890 until 1891, succeeding Domingo Bombal in the position.-Reference:*...
. He established a newspaper in the city of Mendoza
Mendoza, Argentina
Mendoza is the capital city of Mendoza Province, in Argentina. It is located in the northern-central part of the province, in a region of foothills and high plains, on the eastern side of the Andes. As of the , Mendoza's population was 110,993...
, La Reforma, and was a founding member of what became the leading advocacy group for electoral reform and 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...
, 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). Vigorously opposed by the senior Senator from Mendoza, Emilio Civit, these moves led the closure of La Reforma in 1892, and to the province's renewed "intervention" by federal authorities.
Electoral fraud led to a failed civil uprising on the part of the UCR in 1893, and again in 1905. Lencinas participated in both, and became notable for being the only insurrectionist to overthrow a provincial governor during the latter conflict (if only briefly). He avoided jail in the then-notorious Ushuaia
Ushuaia
Ushuaia may refer to the following:*Ushuaia, a city in Argentina.**Ushuaia Department, an administrative division**Ushuaia River**Ushuaia International Airport**Colegio Nacional de Ushuaia, National School of Ushuaia....
prison, or execution, by fleeing to neighboring Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
after commandeering a Transandine Railway locomotive. Lencinas, as did surviving fellow participants in the revolt, ultimately benefited from a 1906 pardon by President José Figueroa Alcorta
José Figueroa Alcorta
José Figueroa Alcorta was President of Argentina from 12 March 1906 to 12 October 1910.Figueroa Alcorta was born in Córdoba as the son of José Figueroa and Teodosia Alcorta. He was elected a National Representative for Córdoba before becoming Provincial Governor in 1895. In 1898 he returned to the...
.
The 1912 passage 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 provided much of the electoral reform the UCR had agitated for, led the election of their longtime 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...
, in 1916. Lencinas was elected to the Lower House of Congress
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....
alongside his son, Carlos, and following President Yrigoyen's decree removing the Conservative governor of Mendoza in November 1917, Lencinas was elected to the post. Taking office on March 6, 1918, he pursued a progressive
Progressivism
Progressivism is an umbrella term for a political ideology advocating or favoring social, political, and economic reform or changes. Progressivism is often viewed by some conservatives, constitutionalists, and libertarians to be in opposition to conservative or reactionary ideologies.The...
agenda for the standards of the day, enacting an ambitious program of labor and social legislation that included an 8-hour workday and a minimum wage (some of the nation's first reforms of their type). These policies put him at odds with not only the landed gentry; but also President Yrigoyen, who sought to maintain cordial relations with the then-agrarian country's powerful landowning elite. Lencinas, instead, believed the latter group was co-opting the UCR by joining its ranks, and advocated for Yrigoyen's break with what he termed "Fair-weather Radicals" (particularly the most prominent of these at the time, the President of the 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...
, Leopoldo Melo
Leopoldo Melo
Leopoldo Melo was an Argentine lawyer, diplomat and politician. He was a leading figure in the Radical Civic Union, a nominee for President, and later Minister of Internal Affairs.-Biography:...
). Following Lencinas' convalescence from a sudden pulmonary illness, Yrigoyen intervened once again, removing the governor on December 24.
The appointed Federal Receiver, Dr. Tomás de Veyga, resigned, however, and his successor, Dr. Perfecto Araya, reinstated Lencinas as governor. The ensuing struggle with Delfín Álvarez, Lencinas' former Vice-Governor and now nemesis, as well as with the Legislature and the courts, proved too much for Lencinas, who died in Mendoza on January 20, 1920. His son, Carlos Washington Lencinas
Carlos Washington Lencinas
Carlos Washington Lencinas was an Argentine politician.-Life and times:Carlos Washington Lencinas was born in Rivadavia Department, Mendoza, in 1888, to Fidela Peacock and José Néstor Lencinas. The elder Lencinas was a Mendoza Province lawmaker known for his tempestuous political rights advocacy...
, was elected governor in 1922.