Senator James M. Bell View All Years

JAMES M. BELL

MR. PRESIDENT: Your committee, appointed to prepare a suitable resolution commemorating the life, character and public service of the late James M. Bell, begs leave to submit the following:

James M. Bell, 77, born March 28, 1876, one of Burlington’s best known political figures since the turn of the century, died on Monday, August 3, 1953, in Burlington, Iowa.

He was a former mayor of Burlington, former State Senator, and Democratic candidate for Congress. He was often mentioned, too, for other posts, and late in 1950 was a candidate for the appointive post of Internal Revenue Collector for Iowa.

Mr. Bell, for years prominent in the councils of the Democratic party in Burlington, was also active in district and state political circles. He was recognized as a hard campaigner who pulled no punches; who was soft spoken, always courteous, ever pleasant.

“He was of the old school,” a long time associate commented. “He was always in the thick of the fight. He remembered his friends, kept a watchful eye on his opponents.”

While in the insurance business in Burlington for years, he was best known for political activity.

Twice he just missed being his party’s choice for Congressman from the first district. Each time he led other candidates in the field, each time he fell short of the required 35 per cent of the total vote and each time he was counted out at his party’s district convention.

He was a State Senator from 1934 to 1938, and then jumped to the Democratic nomination for Congress. In 1936 he led a field of four other candidates, but the nomination was thrown into the convention at Davenport and he lost out. In 1938 he again failed to get the required margin though he led the ticket and was counted out at the district convention at Iowa City.

Mr. Bell first held a public office when he was elected county auditor in 1901.

From 1912 to 1916 he was county Democratic chairman and served as Burlington mayor from 1916 to 1920. In more recent years he again sought the office of mayor, but without success.

Mr. Bell was born in New Boston, Illinois, but came to Burlington as a boy and spent most of his life here. He was the son of H. O. Vashti Willits Bell.

As a youngster, when the family lived in Chicago, he was a cash boy for Marshall Field I, famed store owner, and following Field’s longtime practice, shook hands each morning with his boss.

For 16 years, Mr. Bell traveled out of New York as a broker for the Borden Milk Company. In Burlington he operated in the stock and bond business on Third Street with a direct wire to Chicago. For many years he had been in the insurance brokerage business in Burlington.

He was of the Methodist faith, a member of the Eagles and an honorary member of the Elks. He at one time served in old Company H of the Iowa National Guard.

In 1925 he married Mrs. Julia Leake Steinbrecher. She survives as do two married daughters by a previous marriage, Mary and Betty, of Los Angeles, California; a stepson, Richard E. Steinbrecher of Chicago, Illinois, and three grandchildren.

Affectionately known as “Jim” Bell to his many friends and political associates throughout the State of Iowa, the Senator was active in a long span of Iowa history. His thorough and conscientious interest in civic affairs, and including service to his city as mayor, to his county as State Senator, and to his state as a public-spirited man of public affairs, never wavered or flagged. In victory or in defeat, in time of prosperity or in a period of depression, he never lost sight of the democratic ideal—that a representative form of government must call upon its best citizens and they must heed that call in order that representative. democracy can survive. Always kindly in his manner, and interested in the problems that confronted the lowliest citizen or the most influential, never too busy in his own life to take the time out to review the passing scene with his friends and associates, “Jim” Bell, over the years of his life, set in motion a long series of recollections and reveries in the heart and affections of his fellow citizens. His was a ready and friendly humor; and his comment never forsook the limits of kindness and forebearance of the faults of others. Faithful in his civic duties, loyal in his soundness of the political principles he represented, “Jim” Bell passes from the scene of his triumphs, a beloved figure whose memory shall not soon be forsaken.

Be It Resolved by the Senate of the Fifty-sixth General Assembly: That in the passing of the Honorable James M. Bell, the state has lost a valuable, loyal and honorable citizen and one who contributed unselfishly to his county, state and nation.

Be It Further Resolved: That a copy of this resolution be spread upon the Journal of the Senate, and that the Secretary of the Senate be instructed to forward enrolled copies to the members of his family.

THOMAS J. DAILEY,

CHARLES W. NELSON,

GEORGE W. WEBER,

Committee.

The resolution was unanimously adopted.