1925 Tenant Movement

{{Infobox civil conflict

| partof =

| image = Santa Ana Plaza City of Panama Oct 12, 1925 - DPLA - 50e024a5aa23c75205cb22d370f38e15.jpg

| caption = Soldiers of the 33rd U.S. Infantry in Santa Ana Park, Panama City, 12 October

| date =

| place = Republic of Panama{{blist|Panama City|Colón}}

| methods = Rent strike, labour strike, protest

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| causes = High cost of rent, rent increases

| goals = Rent reductions

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| side1 = {{flagicon image|Socialist red flag.svg}} {{lang|es|Liga de Inquilinos y Subsistencia de Panamá}}

| side2 = {{ubl|{{flagdeco|Panama}} Government of Panama

|16px National Police

|{{flagdeco|Panama Canal Zone}} Panama Canal Zone

||14px 33rd U.S. Infantry}}

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The 1925 Tenant Movement ({{Langx|es|Movimiento inquilinario de 1925}}), also known as the 1925 Tenant Strike ({{Langx|es|Huelga inquilinaria de 1925}}), was a rent strike, and series of demonstrations in the Republic of Panama. The Tenant Movement was primarily active in the cities of Panama City and Colón, and was organized to achieve rent reductions.

The movement began with the formation of the {{Langx|es|Liga de Inquilinos y Subistencia|label=none}} ("Tenants' League"), established in June 1925 with the help of the {{Langx|es|Sindicato General de Trabajadores|label=none}} ("General Workers' Union") with the aim to fight against high and increasing rents. The Tenants' League organized a rent strike which began on 1 October. On the 12 October, the United States intervened to suppress the strikes. Bakers, butchers, chauffeur drivers, and street car drivers undertook Work stoppagees in support of the rent strike. On 21 October US troops were withdrawn.

The strike resulted in the formation of a Rent Claims Commission, which was intended to mediate disputes between tenants and landlords. Despite this, and as well as the efforts of Panamanian President Rodolfo Chiari, landlords continued to raise rents. Similar conditions would cause a refounded {{Langx|es|Liga de Inquilinos|label=none}} to organize a rent strike in August 1932.

History

On 11 February 1925, Law No. 29 was enacted, which saw a minor increase in property taxes in Panama. Following the increase, many landlords disproportionately hiked rents.{{Cite book |last=Major |first=John |url=https://archive.org/details/prizepossessionu0000majo |title=Prize possession: the United States and the Panama canal, 1903-1979 |date=1993 |publisher=Cambridge university press |isbn=978-0-521-43306-8 |pages=151–153 |via=Internet Archive}}{{Cite web |date=19 July 2022 |title=US fights Panama renters' strike |url=https://stories.workingclasshistory.com/article/8436/US-fights-Panama-renters%27-strike |access-date=4 November 2024 |website=Working Class History}}{{Cite news |last=Mónica |first=Guardia |date=18 October 2015 |title=El Movimiento Inquilinario de 1925: el poder de las masas |url=https://www.laestrella.com.pa/panama/nacional/1925-masas-movimiento-inquilinario-BNLE152232 |access-date=11 November 2024 |work=La Estrella de Panamá |publisher= |language=es-PA}} Issues were exacerbated for tenants due to the undersupply in housing stock, as well as the existing housing stock often being small, cramped, and unsanitary.{{cite book |last=Lindsay-Poland |first=John |title=Emperors in the Jungle: The Hidden History of the U.S. in Panama |date=2003 |publisher=Duke University |isbn=0-8223-3098-9 |pages=41–42}}

In June, the {{Langx|es|Liga de Inquilinos y Subistencia|label=none}} ("Tenants' League"){{Efn|Various English language sources name the organisation differently {{Langx|es|Liga de Inquilinos y Subistencia|label=none}} differently. These translations include:{{hlist|Tenants' League|Renters League|League of Tenants|League of Rent Payers}}|group=note}} was formed. The League was formed with involvement of the new {{Langx|es|Sindicato General de Trabajadores|label=none}} ("General Workers' Union"), with the League operating as an autonomous affiliate of the Union.{{Cite book |last=Cuevas |first=Alexander |title=Panamá, dependencia y liberación |publisher=Editorial Universitaria Centroamericana |year=1975 |location=San José, Costa Rica |pages=31–75 |language=es |chapter=El Movimento Inquilinario De 1925 |chapter-url=https://bdigital.binal.ac.pa/bdp/panamadependencia1.pdf |via=bdigital.binal.ac.pa}}{{Rp|page=46}} In addition to Panamanian citizens, there were also a number of foreign people—some living in exile—within Panama who were active in the Tenants' League. Some leading members of the League were deported in August, and again in September.

= Rent Strike =

The Tenants' League called for a rent strike starting on 1 October in Panama City. On 9 October, the Strike spread to Colón.{{Cite news |last=de Medina |first=Leticia S. |date=29 October 2023 |title=Recordando al Movimiento Inquilinario de octubre 10, 1925 |url=https://www.laestrella.com.pa/panama/publicando-historia/recordando-movimiento-inquilinario-octubre-10-LMLE500795 |access-date=11 November 2024 |work=La Estrella de Panamá |publisher= |language=es-PA}}

The League decided to organize a rally within Santa Ana Plaza at 20:00 on 10 October. Despite having previously allowed demonstrations by the League, City Mayor Mario Galindo forbid the rally.{{Cite news |date=17 October 1925 |title=Tenants' League and Police Clash Results In Four Deaths and Several Wounded |url=https://www.dloc.com/AA00027053/00334/ |work=The Workman |pages=1, 8 |via=Digital Library of the Caribbean |volume=14 |issue=10}} The members of the Tenants' League sent a petition to Mayor Galindo to rescind the order, but he refused. The Tenant League's demonstration went ahead regardless, at which National Police shot strikers, killing four people and wounding at least seven. 28 people were arrested by police.{{Cite news |date=13 October 1925 |title=U.S. Soldiers in Panama City |work=The Evening Independent |page=1 |volume=18 |issue=294 |agency=United News}} One funeral the next day was attended thousands of people.

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Early 12 October, the acting Governor of the Panama Canal Zone declared that only danger to American life or property, or the request of the Government of Panama, would result in United States military intervention (under the provision of Article 136 of the 1904 Constitution of Panama the US held the constitutional right to intervene in Panamanian affairs as it saw fit).{{cite news |last=Martin |first=Gerald |date=12 October 1925 |title=U.S. Soldiers Rule Panama |url=https://archive.org/details/per_chicago-daily-tribune_1925-10-13_84_245/mode/2up |work=Chicago Daily Tribune |pages=1–2 |publication-date=13 October 1925 |via=Internet Archive}} President Rodolfo Chiari requested the US support in suppressing the strikes, and at 13:30 on 12 October, three battalions of the 33rd U.S. Infantry Regiment crossed from Fort Clayton in the Canal Zone into the Panama, ordered to break apart any gathering of more than five people.{{Cite news |date=13 October 1925 |title=American Soldiers Guard Panama City; Asked by President Chiari After Rent Riots |url=https://archive.org/details/sim_new-york-times_1925-10-13_75_24734 |access-date=11 November 2024 |work=The New York Times |page=1 |language=en |via=Internet Archive |issn=0362-4331}} At first the request was for US soldiers to support local police, but the resulting US intervention was conditional on being given full authority of command.

The Tenants' League demanded the 150 imprisoned tenants released, and that the police who killed strikers were punished.{{cite news |last=Martin |first=Gerald |date=14 October 1925 |title=Landlords Cut Rent in Panama to Calm Rioters |url=https://archive.org/details/per_chicago-daily-tribune_1925-10-15_84_247/page/n3/mode/2up?q=panama |work=Chicago Daily Tribune |page=5 |publication-date=15 October 1925 |via=Internet Archive |volume=84 |issue=245}}

Some workers—namely bakers, butchers, chauffeur drivers, and street car drivers—decided to undertake labor strikes for lower rents, with The Workman reporting that a general strike had been declared. The work stoppage by chauffeur drivers and street car drivers heavily disrupted traffic within Panama City. In addition numerous volunteer fireman quit.

In an effort to end the rent strike, a Rent Claims Commission was formed to mediate cases between tenants and landlords,{{Cite news |date=24 October 1925 |title=Troops Quit Panama City; Mixed Commission Starts Work to Adjust Rent Differences |url=https://archive.org/details/sim_new-york-times_1925-10-25_75_24746/page/n37 |work=The New York Times |page=38 |publication-date=25 October 1925 |via=Internet Archive |volume=7 |issue=24746 |agency=Associated Press}}{{Cite news |date=24 October 1925 |title=Items of Interest Local & Foreign |url=https://www.dloc.com/AA00027053/00335 |work=The Workman |pages=1 |via=Digital Library of the Caribbean |volume=14 |issue=11}}{{Cite news |date=24 October 1925 |title=The House Rent Question |url=https://www.dloc.com/AA00027053/00335 |work=The Workman |page=4 |via=Digital Library of the Caribbean |volume=14 |issue=11}} with representatives of both sitting on the commission.{{Cite news |date=28 October 1925 |title=Rent Strike is Still Unsettled |url=https://www.dloc.com/AA00010883/03140/ |work=The Panama American |page=8 |via=Digital Library of the Caribbean |volume=1 |issue=22}} The commission first met on 22 October. Despite intention for the commission to meet daily, by 28 October the commission had not met for a second time.

On 21 October, the US State Department decided it would withdraw troops, doing so on 23 October.{{Cite news |date=7 November 1925 |title=Troops to Leave Panama |url=https://www.dloc.com/AA00083639/04162 |work=St. Croix Avis |pages=3 |via=Digital Library of the Caribbean}} The US Panama Canal Division Commander William Lassiter had hoped for US occupation to be prolonged so as to pressure President Chiari into conducting mass evictions.

On 27 October, President Chiari met with tenants telling them to produce a list of conditions which would end the strike, however ruling out releasing any arrested tenants. The same day, five imprisoned tenants began a hunger strike.

Aftermath and legacy

The Superior Judge of the Republic ruled that some members of the League were to be tried for crimes against the homeland, and others for resisting authorities.{{Cite news |date=25 November 2024 |title=Judge Rules Holding of Meeting was Offense |url=https://www.dloc.com/AA00010883/03146 |work=The Panama American |page=1 |via=Digital Library of the Caribbean |volume=1 |issue=49}} The Superior Judge also exonerated the police of wrongdoing for their killings.{{Cite news |date=14 November 1925 |title=Sub-Chief of Police Not Guilty |url=https://www.dloc.com/AA00027053/00338 |work=The Workman |page=8 |via=Digital Library of the Caribbean |volume=14 |issue=14}}

At least 16 people who had immigrated illegally were deported following the strike.{{Cite news |date=1 November 1925 |title=16 Deported in Panama Strike |url=https://archive.org/details/sim_new-york-times_1925-11-01_75_24753/page/n226 |work=The New York Times |via=Internet Archive |volume=75 |issue=24753 |agency=Associated Press}}

Despite President Rodolfo Chiari efforts to reduce tenants' rents, rents continued to increase and In August 1932 a new {{Langx|es|Liga de Inquilinos|label=none}} organized another rent strike.{{blist|{{Cite news |date=5 August 1932 |title=Fights Are Expected In Panama Rent Strike |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1932/08/05/archives/fights-are-expected-in-panama-rent-strike-government-is-handicapped.html |url-access=subscription |pages=6}}|{{Cite news |date=8 August 1932 |title=Newsboys Aid Rent Strike |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1932/08/08/archives/newsboys-aid-rent-strike-prevent-street-sales-of-papers-in-panama.html |url-access=subscription |pages=8}}|{{Cite news |date=11 August 1932 |title=Act In Rent Strike.; American and British Ministers in Panama Call on President. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1932/08/11/archives/act-in-rent-strike-american-and-british-ministers-in-panama-call-on.html |url-access=subscription |work=The New York Times}}}}

Footnotes

References

External links

[https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1925v02/ch57 Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States: Assistance by United States troops in quelling riots in Panama City]

Category:Rent strikes

Category:Social movements in Panama

Category:Housing in Panama

Category:1920s in Panama

Category:History of Panama City

Category:Colón, Panama

Category:Military operations involving the United States