The biography of Casimiro Barela / by José Emilio Fernández ; translated, annotated, and new introduction by A. Gabriel Meléndez.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Fernández, José Emilio, 1882-

Contributor:

Meléndez, A. Gabriel (Anthony Gabriel)

Standardized Title:

Cuarenta años de legislador. English

Language:

English

Spanish

Subjects (All):

Barela, Casimiro.

Colorado. General Assembly. Senate.

Hispanic American legislators--Colorado--Biography.

Legislators--Colorado--Biography.

Colorado. General Assembly. Senate--Biography.

Ethnic relations.

Legislators.

Hispanic American legislators.

Colorado--Politics and government--1876-1950.

Colorado.

Politics and government.

Colorado--Ethnic relations.

Trinidad Region (Colo.)--Biography.

Trinidad Region (Colo.)--History--20th century.

Genre:

Biographies.

Physical Description:

liv, 298 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Albuquerque : University of New Mexico Press, [2003]

Language Note:

Translated from the Spanish.

Summary:

"Barela's record as lawmaker and his active participation in the development of Colorado suffice to make his story worth telling. The Barela biography is the record of a legislative and political career filled with firsts for Mexicanos, a fact Fernandez underscores repeatedly when showering his subject with the epithets: "Perpetual Senator." "Father of the Colorado Senate," and "Forty Years a Legislator." Among Barela's accomplishments are his election as President Pro Tempore of the Colorado Senate in 1893, his appointment by the Mexican Government as Consul in Denver, and his appointment to a similar post by the government of Cosia Rica in 1897. Above all, Barela is shown to be a steadfast advocate for the Spanish-speaking community of southern Colorado, a noteworthy accomplishment considering that Colorado was a place where anti-Mexican sentiments ran high and often resulted in intimidation and open violence against the Spanish-speaking. Barela often asserted that 'Al tratarse de mi raza, especialmente si se trata de discriminar, abdico mis ideas en politica y me dedico a su defensa en todo tiempo y lugar.' [If it concerns my race, especially if it is a matter of discrimination, I abdicated my political ideologies and dedicate myself to its defense at all times and at all places]."

Contents:

Introduction: Recovering Neo-Mexicano Biographical Narrative: Cuarenta anos de legislador, The Biography of Casimiro Barela xiii

Introduction for the Work Forty Years as a Legislator, Or The Biography of Senator Casimiro Barela Written by Jose Emilio Fernandez / Benjamin M. Read xlix

Birth and Genealogy 3

Primary Education 7

Some Incidents Worthy of Mention 9

He Enters Business 11

He Emigrates to the Colorado Territory 11

Senator Barela's First Marriage 13

The Barelas in Colorado 14

His Start in Politics 15

An Heiress 16

Barela Named County Assessor 16

Barela Elected Representative to the Territorial Legislature 16

His Third Daughter 16

He Keeps Progressing 17

Barela Manages to Have the Laws Published in Spanish 17

His Fourth Daughter 18

More about His Private Life 19

The Death of Senator's Parents 19

The Death of Dona Josefita Ortiz de Barela 20

Something about His Daughters and His Sons-in-Law 22

Senator Casimiro Barela's Second Marriage 25

Brief Comments 27

Past and Current Business 28

Incidents Showing Foresight 33

So Much Is Owed Him! 34

As Representative and as Major Sheriff 35

The Colorado Constitutional Convention 37

In the Senate 42

General Grant's Visit to Trinidad 47

Barela As a Representative to the Democratic National Convention 48

Other Posts 48

As a Presidential Elector 48

The Arbitrary Action of Judge Caldwell Yeaman 49

The Denver, Colorado Exposition 54

Barela's Intrepid Infantry 55

The Mutual Advancement Association 56

A Candidate for Auditor of the State of Colorado 56

Further Work in the Senate 57

Named Field Assistant with the Rank of Colonel 58

The St. Louis Convention 58

His Trip to Mexico 59

A Memorial in Favor of New Mexico 69

Statehood for New Mexico 71

Colonel Chavez's Letter 76

Resolutions to the Colorado Legislature 77

Comments in the Press 79

Senator Barela's Personal Opinion 80

Letter from Antonio Joseph 82

Baca, A New County 83

The Colorado and Pacific Railroad 84

The Highway to Stonewall 84

The Establishment of a Court of Land Claims Is Urged before the National Congress 84

Something about the Death of Senator Chilcott 88

The Campaign of 1892 [Appendix I] 89

Senator Barela Is Elected Interim President of the Senate by the Unanimous Vote of All Parties 93

For Governor of New Mexico 94

$25,000 for the Trinidad Schools 94

As Interim Governor of Colorado 94

As Minister to Guatemala [Lists in Appendix II] 95

Named Consul of the Republic of Mexico 95

A Trip by Some New Mexican Legislators to Denver 97

Women's Suffrage 98

Barela Is a Candidate for State Treasurer 99

The 1894 Strike 99

The 1895 Legislative Session 99

The Mexican Exposition 99

The Carnival in Denver 101

In Defense of the Italians 101

The Mexican Consulate Defends Three Mexican Citizens 102

Colorado Springs's Twenty-Fifth Anniversary Celebration 103

The Campaign of 1896 103

A Despicable Attempt on the Life of Senator Barela 104

The Foiled Assassination 105

The 1897 Legislative Session 106

A Delegate to the National Meeting of Stock Raisers 106

Senator Barela Is Named Consul to the Republic of Costa Rica in Colorado 110

The Buena Vista Union 112

The Commutation of Librado Mora's Sentence 112

Revered in Washington, D.C.'s Legislative Halls 113

A Delegate to the State Democratic Convention 113

Senator Barela's Speech for the Fourth of July Celebration of 1898 113

A Memorial to the National Congress Authorizing the Return of the Trophies Belonging to the Republic of Mexico [Appendix III] 115

President of the Inauguration Commission 127

In Defense of His Constituency's Voting Rights 127

The Paris Exposition 128

An Industrial School near Trinidad, Colorado 128

The Death of Jesus Maria Garcia 128

Barela's Portrait in the Dome of the Colorado Capitol Building 129

A Delegate to the Stock Raisers' Convention for a Second Time 131

The Carnival in Colorado Springs, Colorado 131

S. W. Debusk's Opinion 131

An Interview with a Reporter 132

The Campaign of 1900 133

A False Accusation 133

The 1901 Legislative Session 135

At President McKinley's Death 137

Ever in Defense of the Worker 138

Senator Barela's Change of Political Party [Appendix IV] 138

The Campaign of 1904 141

Notes from the Press 142

The 1905 Legislative Session 144

A Bill to Establish Columbus Day 144

The Celebration in Pueblo 145

The Political Echoes of 1905 148

To Honor the Memory of Senator E. O. Wolcott 149

The Work of Prisoners on the Highways 149

Other Projects 149

The Senator's Continual Service as a Legislator Cannot Be Matched 150

The Legislative Session of 1907 154

A Senate Commission to Assess the Needs of the Institutions of the State 156

The Publication of the Proceedings of the Constitutional Convention 157

Senator Barela's Sixtieth Birthday 157

Some Speeches Delivered in the Senate [Appendix V] 164

The March 5, 1907 Session 164

Congratulations to Senator Barela [Appendix VI] 168

The Senators are Invited to the Theater 173

Columbus Day Celebration 173

The 1908 Political Campaign 174

Rumors of a Contested Election 175

Senator Barela Offers to Help Beshoar with His Appeal 176

The 1909 Legislative Session [Appendix VII] 179

Our Compliments 179

It Is Urged That New Mexico's Name Not Be Changed 179

An Investigation of Election Practices in Huerfano and Las Animas Counties 180

The Election Appeal Is Tabled 181

A Cowardly Attempt to Influence the Committee to Rule in Favor of the Appellant 182

The Commission Decides to Investigate a Second Time 183

The Opinion of Ex-Governor Charles S. Thomas 183

The First Vote on the Appeal is 17-17 184

The Appeal Is Decided in Favor of Senator Barela 186

An Outpouring of Good Wishes for Senator Barela 188

Columbus Day, 1909 188

The Trinidad and Las Animas County Association of Fairs 189

The Porfirio Diaz Club 190

The 1910 Political Campaign 192

In Favor of Another Constitutional Convention 192

A $6,000 Appropriation 194

Protecting the State Treasury 195

Other Bills that Senator Barela Introduced 196

Barela's Nomination for United States Senator 199

The Senator's Box of Books 199

Senator Barela's Name and His Deeds Are Mentioned in a Multitude of Works and Magazines 200

Other Important Businesses 204

Appendix I 1892 Colorado Senate Biographical Sketch 219

Appendix II List of Supporters on Behalf of Barela's Bid to Be Consul to Guatemala 221

Appendix III The Memorial Bill on Mexican Trophies 227

Appendix IV List of Las Animas County Residents Who Changed Party Affiliation along with Barela 230

Appendix V Some Speeches Delivered in the Senate 233

Appendix VI Congratulations, Senator Barela! 236

Appendix VII The 1909 Legislative Session 244

Appendix IX Praise from Prominent People 251.

Notes:

Includes bibliographial references (pages 296-298).

ISBN:

0826328806

OCLC:

52886858