De la Huerta, Adolfo (1881-1955)
Photo source: Mexican government
Born either in Hermosillo or Guaymas, Sonora on May 26,
1881. After primary studies he attended the Colegio de Sonora in Hermosillo.
After he finished, he went to the National Preparatory School in Mexico City. He
studied accounting, music, and voice. In 1900, however, his father died and he
left school and returned to Sonora to help support the family. He worked as a bookkeeper
in various businesses and the Guaymas branch of the Banco Nacional de México.
He left there and went into management of the San Germán Tannery. He disagreed
with the policies of the Porfirio
Díaz and had to quit. He started promoting the Anti-Reelectionist Party in
1908 and left Guaymas to make party connections in central Mexico. He supported Francisco
I. Madero's successful campaign to get Porfirio Díaz to resign and then
Madero's campaign for the presidency.
In Sonora, he worked with the new state government in several
ways. He helped make a peace with the Yaqui Indians. In state elections, he was
elected a deputy to the legislature, beating Plutarco
Calles. Later, he went to Mexico City on political business in time to
see the overthrow in the bloody coup against Madero on February 9, 1913.
He was with Madero through the Decena Trágica (tragic ten days). When Madero
and Pino Suarez were assassinated, de la Huerta went to Monclova, Coahuila to
join Venustiano
Carranza, who had vowed revenge, arriving on February 20th.
The victory of Carranza and the
Constitutionalists afforded de la Huerta new opportunities. He was appointed Oficial Mayor
of the Secretary of Government. Then he became provisional Governor of Sonora
between May 16, 1916 until August 31, 1917. While governor, he worked
again on the pacification of the Yaquis. He established a Cámara Obrera for
workers and farmers. He had a workmen's compensation law passed. In 1917, he was
a federal senator. In December, 1917, he was named consul general in New York
and served until. he again became governor of Sonora on December 1, 1918. When
Carranza was overthrown by Alvaro
Obregón and Plutarco E. Calles in 1920, de la Huerta supported them. When
it was clear that he was being considered for the interim presidency, he
recommended Antonio I. Villarreal (who would become his Secretary of Agriculture
and Development) and Fernando Iglesias Calderón but Congress named him Interim
President. He served from June 1, 1920 until November 30, 1920. Future president
Pascual Ortiz
Rubio was his Secretary of Communications
and Public Works. Emiliano Zapata recognized his government but Pancho Villa
had to be bought off with a gift of the Canutillo hacienda and money. He then
became finance minister until September 25, 1923. He negotiated the De la
Huerta-Lamont Treaty, reducing the Revolutionary debts owed to US
citizens.
He hoped his successes and his loyalty would earn him the
presidency but Obregón chose Calles, who had been de la Huerta's
Secretary of War, instead. In December, 1923, he launched a rebellion from
Veracruz, a rebellion that was a serious threat to the government. He lost.
Obregón was able to call upon the loyal units of the army, worker battalions,
farmer battalions, and the United States government to squash it. He went to the
United States in exile and lived in Los Angeles, California supporting himself
by teaching music.
Lázaro Cárdenas
invited him back to Mexico in 1935. He held
several government positions: Vistador General de Consulados and Director
General of Civil Pensions. He died in Mexico City on July 9, 1955.
Don Mabry
120803
