Thomas M. Bell (Georgia politician)
Thomas Montgomery Bell (March 17, 1861 – March 18, 1941) was an American politician who served as House majority whip from 1913 to 1915.
Thomas Montgomery Bell | |
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| House Majority Whip | |
| In office 1913–1915 | |
| Preceded by | John Wilbur Dwight |
| Succeeded by | Harold Knutson |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Georgia's 9th district | |
| In office March 4, 1905 – March 3, 1931 | |
| Preceded by | Farish Carter Tate |
| Succeeded by | John Stephens Wood |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 17, 1861 near Cleveland, Georgia |
| Died | March 18, 1941 (aged 80) Gainesville, Georgia |
| Political party | Democratic |
Bell was born in Nacoochee Valley, near Cleveland, Georgia. He graduated from Moore's Business University at Atlanta, then taught public school in Cleveland from 1878 to 1879. He then worked as a traveling salesman for several years. He served as clerk of the superior court of Hall County, Georgia from 1898 to 1904, then was elected as a congress member in the Democratic Party of the United States, serving from March 4, 1905, to March 3, 1931. He served as majority whip from 1913 to 1915. In 1922, he was a prominent voice of racist opposition to anti-lynching legislation, arguing that political equality for African Americans is "something that would never be tolerated and should never be advocated by anyone."[1] After an unsuccessful renomination in 1930, he returned to the private sector and died in Gainesville, Georgia.
References
- "The Dyer Bill: Anti-Lynching Legislation Debated in Congress • The Congressional Digest, 1922 •". Old Magazine Articles. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
External links
- United States Congress. "Thomas M. Bell (id: B000348)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
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