A Bahia dos Calmon. Um ás no jogo político da I República (1920-1926)

Abstract

ABSTRACT Based on private letters, diplomatic dispatches and newspapers from Salvador and Rio de Janeiro, this survey analyses the succession in the government of Bahia (1923-24) and in the Presidency of Republic (1921-22 and 1925-26). The first presidential succession was contested by Nilo Peçanha (candidate of Bahia, Pernambuco, Rio de Janeiro and Rio Grande do Sul) against Artur Bernardes (candidate of the president of Republic Epitácio Pessoa and the others states, included Minas Gerais and São Paulo). Nilo Peçanha, ex-senator from Rio de Janeiro, was launched by the Reação Republicana with J. J. Seabra, governor of Bahia, as candidate to office of vice-presidency of Republic. Artur Bernardes, governor of Minas Gerais, was launched by the Convenção Nacional and had Urbano Santos, governor of Maranhão, as candidate to office of vice- presidency of Republic. Remarkable as a moment of critic against the political practices of the I Republic, this fight among the most important state elites brought political instability, as the militaries and urban voters involved themselves in the competition. This survey aims to indicate the importance of the Bahian elites to the rise of this crisis and to the electoral campaign, but it also shows the division among them, reason to their political weakening. The state succession of 1923-24 was also intensively contested by Arlindo Leoni (candidate of Seabra) against Góis Calmon (candidate of the local opposition). Describing the facts that brought victory to Góis Calmon, this survey relates the state succession with the national crisis, a result of the national succession of 1921-22. The local competition doesn‟t involve only the state government and Opposition for the office of governor, but also the new president of Republic, Bernardes, for the definition of the role of Bahia in federal politics. Including a study of the visit of the Italian crown prince, Umberto di Savoia, to Salvador and showing the consolidation of the power of the brothers Góis, Miguel and Antônio Calmon at the political leadership of Bahia, this study will indicate the importance of this state to the political supporting of Bernardes. This importance will be showed again through the analysis of the presidential succession of 1925-26, which occurred under influence of a conjectural alliance between Minas Gerais and São Paulo. In this occasion, it was launched the practically unanimous candidacies of Washington Luís (ex-governor of São Paulo) and Melo Viana (governor of Minas Gerais), respectively to Presidency and vice-presidency of Republic. The chapter shows how this alliance depends on the political support given by the principals Brazilian states to president Bernardes. In this moment, Calmon brothers completed its political consolidation in Bahia while witnessed the political rise of Otávio Mangabeira.