PORTES GIL, EMILIO (1891- ), Mexican statesman and provisional president (Dec. I, 1928, to Feb. 5, 193o), was born at Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas, on Oct. 3o, 1891. He studied in the law school of the National university and was graduated in 1915 at the peak of revolutionary disorders. He took a prominent part in the revolutionary movement, serving in a judicial capacity in Sonora during Calles' administration as governor and in the legal section of the War Department while Gen. Obregon was Secretary of War. In 1919 he worked in favour of the candidacy of Obregon and was imprisoned for a time for his activities. Following the overthrow of Carranza in 192o, Portes Gil acted as provisional governor of Tamaulipas and subsequently was elected a deputy from that State for four terms. He took office as elected governor of Tamaulipas in Feb. 1925 and held this post until appointed Secretary of the Interior and head of the cabinet by President Calles in Aug. 1928. While governor, he worked on behalf of labour legislation and did much for the labouring and agrarian classes of his State. The number
of schools in the State was increased from 28o to over 600 and special attention was given to agricultural and industrial in struction. He also abolished gambling and established partial prohibition by closing the groggeries in villages and on haciendas.
Portes Gil was elected provisional president of Mexico by a unanimous vote of the Mexican Congress (Sept. 25, 1928) to fill a temporary gap caused by the assassination of president-elect Obregon. His selection was supported by President Calles as well as the powerful Agrarian Party. He assumed administrative con trol pledged to the fulfillment of the social programme outlined by the late Gen. Obregon and also to the development of friendly relations with the United States. The selection of Portes Gil is significant in Mexican history because of his lack of a military career.