José Tous Soto

This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Tous and the second or maternal family name is Soto.
José Tous Soto
Member of the Puerto Rico Senate
from the Guayama district
In office
1917–1924
Member of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives
In office
1924-1932
Personal details
Born October 2, 1874
San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico
Died 1933 (aged 58–59)
Political party Partido Liberal Fusionista
Republican Party
Alianza Puertorriqueña
Alma mater University of Oviedo
Profession Politician, Attorney

José Tous Soto (October 2, 1874 – 1933) was a Puerto Rican politician and former Senator and Representative.

Early years and education

José Tous Soto was born in San Lorenzo on October 2, 1874. He graduated from law at the University of Oviedo in Spain.

Political career

Party alliance

Tous began his political career with the Partido Liberal Fusionista, led by Luis Muñoz Rivera. He then joined the Republican Party.

Legislator

In 1900, he was chosen to occupy a seat in the House of Delegates of Puerto Rico, representing the district of Guayama. In 1914, he was elected for another term, this time representing the district of Ponce.

In 1917, Tous was a member of the first Puerto Rican Senate established by the Jones-Shafroth Act. He represented the District VI (Guayama).

When the Campbell Project was presented in 1922, Tous opposed to it. The project offered Puerto Rico the possible development of an autonomous state.

Leadership in the Alianza

He continued serving at the Senate, until 1924. That year, Tous and Antonio Barceló, then Senate president, led a merging of the Republican Party with the opposing Union of Puerto Rico, forming Alianza Puertorriqueña. The merging came as a means to unify the efforts of the politicians legislating in favor of better conditions for Puerto Ricans. As a result, Tous became a member of the House of Representatives while Barceló continued in the Senate.[1][2][3][4]

Death

Tous Soto died in 1933.

References

  1. ↑ Cartas de Tous Soto y Barceló on Pomarrosas
  2. ↑ Biografías del mes de abril on El Nuevo Día (April 13, 2010)
  3. ↑ New York Times 1933: Jose Tous Soto Dominant Puerto Rican Political Figure Dies in his car
  4. ↑ Historia del Poder Legislativo on SalonHogar