Thomas M. Bell (Georgia politician)

For other people named Thomas Bell, see Thomas Bell (disambiguation).

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
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	(1861-03-17)March 17, 1861 near Cleveland, Georgia
Died	March 18, 1941(1941-03-18) (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

1. "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.

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Farish Carter Tate	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Georgia's 9th congressional district March 4, 1905 – March 3, 1931	Succeeded by John Stephens Wood
Party political offices
Preceded by John Wilbur Dwight (R-NY) (No majority (Democratic) whip 1911–1913; Dwight was Majority whip 1909–1911)	House Majority Whip 1913–1915	Succeeded by Harold Knutson (R-MN) (No majority (Democratic) whip 1915–1919; Knutson was whip 1919–1923)
Preceded by James Tilghman Lloyd (MO) (The Democrats had no whip 1909–1913; Lloyd served 1901–1908)	House Democratic Whip 1913–1915	Succeeded by William Allan Oldfield (AR) (The Democrats had no whip 1915–1921; Oldfield served 1921–1928)