Batlle y Ordóñez, José (hōsā` bät`yā` ē ôrdō`nyās), 1856–1929, president of Uruguay (1903–07, 1911–15). A journalist and the head of the Colorado party, Batlle was a campaigner for political reform. In his second term he initiated radical legislation to increase public welfare and substitute government for the anarchism that had plagued Uruguay since the winning of independence. Among his most significant proposals were universal adult suffrage, labor reforms, and the decentralization of the executive into a junta modeled after the Swiss federal council. The constitution of 1917, framed under his influence, curbed the power of the executive and provided for socialist government, a trend not interrupted until Terra Terra, Gabriel (gäbrēĕl` tĕ`rä), 1873–1942, president of Uruguay (1931–38).
..... Click the link for more information. became president in 1931.

Bibliography

See study by M. I. Vanger (1963).

Batlle y Ordóñez, José

(born May 21, 1856, Montevideo, Uru.—died Oct. 20, 1929, Montevideo) President of Uruguay (1903–07, 1911–15). The son of a former president of Uruguay, he was involved in politics from the 1880s. His narrow victory in the 1903 presidential election led to a brief civil war, but when he held new elections in 1905 he won again. He stepped down at the end of his term and was reelected in 1911. He inaugurated labour reforms, limited the profits of foreign-owned businesses, encouraged migration, nationalized and developed public works, ended the death penalty, and protected children born out of wedlock. He is credited with transforming Uruguay into a stable, democratic welfare state.