Antonio R. Barceló
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Antonio R. Barceló (April 15, 1868 – October 15, 1938), born in the City of Fajardo, Puerto Rico, was a lawyer, businessman and the patriarch of what was to become one of Puerto Rico's most prominent political families.
As a youngster, Barceló took an active interest in politics. He studied in the "Concillier Seminary" of San Juan where he earned a lawyers degree. He then joined the "Autonomist Party" (founded by José de Diego and Román Baldorioty de Castro in 1887) and soon became the party's Secretary.
Barceló left the Party and on October 1, 1899, together with Luis Muñoz Rivera formed the Federal Party, which believed in statehood with the U.S. as the final political solution for Puerto Rico. After this the party was dissolved, Barceló, Luis Muñoz Rivera and José de Diego formed the "Union Party of Puerto Rico" and was elected to the Chamber of Delegates in 1905.
In 1910, Barceló founded the Association Puerto Rico, with the idea of protecting the main industries of the island, which at that time were the coffee, tobacco and sugar industries, against imported brands. The legislature of Puerto Rico passed law number 52 in 1913, which officially established the Association of Puerto Rico and renamed it the Association of Products made in Puerto Rico. The law also incorporated and protected the official logo of the association which contains the phrase "Hecho en Puerto Rico" (Made in Puerto Rico).
In 1914, Barceló, Muñoz Rivera and de Diego were members of an executive council that attempted to form an alliance between the Union and Republican Parties.
In 1917, after Luis Muñoz Rivera died, Barceló became the leading force behind the liberal ideas of the island. He was elected to the Senate Puerto Rico and was named President of the Senate from 1917 to 1932.
In 1924, the "Alliance Party" was formed and in 1932, was renamed the "Puerto Rican Liberal Party". The Liberal Party's political agenda changed from the Federal Party's agenda, and urged independence as a final political solution for Puerto Rico.
By 1937, Luis Muñoz Rivera's son, Luis Muñoz Marín had joined the Liberal Party. Barceló and Muñoz Marín had different points of view as to how Puerto Rico should go about obtaining its independence. Barceló believed that independence should be gradual process, first heralded by autonomous insular government. Muñoz Marín desired immediate independence for Puerto Rico. This led Muñoz to break away from the Liberal Party. Barceló was also a victim of an assassination attempt, but this did not keep him from believing and pursuing his liberal ideas.
Antonio Barceló was responsible for the approval of many laws which lead to reforms and that would greatly benefit the social justice, labor and the economy of Puerto Rico. Barceló helped to establish the minimum wage rate, workers' compensation and limited working hours. Barceló, also played a principal role in the establishment of the "Tropical School of Medicine", "The Antituberculosis Sanctuary" and numerous other centers.
In 1928, Columbia University of New York, honored Barceló by bestowing upon him an Honorary Doctorate of Law.
Ironically, his grandson Carlos Romero Barceló would one day in the future become Governor of Puerto Rico under the agenda of statehood, which Antonio had grown to oppose.
Anonio R. Barceló died in the City of San Juan, Puerto Rico on October 15, 1938.
His memory has been honored by Puerto Rico by naming public buildings and schools after him, including the Antonio R. Barceló Legislative Building which previously housed the School of Tropical Medicine and the Department of Natural Resources.
