[3] While in Russia, he met leaders of the October Revolution such as Vladimir Lenin, Leon Trotsky and Grigory Zinoviev[2] and the anarcho-communist theoretician Peter Kropotkin.

[5] Together with his mentor Salvador Seguí,[6] Pestaña opposed the paramilitary and terrorist actions advocated and carried out by other members of the CNT.

In August 1922, he was the victim of an assassination attempt while giving a speech in Manresa, as part of the violent repression measures taken by the Spanish authorities against the labor movement.

The indignation caused throughout Spain by news of this act brought the dismissal of several government officials, as well as an end to the Ley de fugas, a legislation that permitted the murder of trade union activists.

[8] In contrast to other CNT members he proposed the idea that the confederation should try to become legal by operating inside the margins imposed by the authorities.