Juan
Peiro
was
born in Catalonia in 1887. He became a steel worker in Barcelona and
developed syndicalist views. In 1924 he became secretary of the National
Confederation of Trabajo (CNT). Peiro argued that collaboration
with the government was more effective than terrorism in achieving
social reforms.
By 1930 Peiro was a strong
opponent of militant anarchism. This
upset the Federación Anarquista Ibérica
(FAI) and they managed to get him ousted as editor of the Solidaridad
Obrero, the major newspaper of the CNT.
Between 1934 and 1936 Peiro
organized strikes in Catalonia and Asturias. A supporter of the Popular
Front government, Piero was appointed by Francisco
Largo Caballero as
minister of industry in November 1936. In this post he advocated the
collectivization of industry and agriculture. He also promoted the
idea of workers' banks.
In May 1937 he ordered
the collectivization of all mines. However, the decree was not implemented
by the new Communist dominated government
led by Juan Negrin.
At the end off the Spanish
Civil War Peiro fled to France. After
the invasion of the German
Army he
was captured and sent back to Franco's Spain.
Juan
Peiro was
executed in 1942.
(1)
Juan Peiro became concerned
about about the use of violence during the Spanish
Civil War (30th July
1937)
Some
people have killed for the sheer sake of killing, because they could
kill with impunity. Many who have been killed were shot because of
personal vengeance. A people in rebellion have been infiltrated by
amoral elements who rob and murder by profession. Many of those who
carry out expropriations have had no other interest than to seize
other people's money and goods for themselves.
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