Thomas S. Butler | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Butler in 1913 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromPennsylvania | |
| In office March 4, 1897 – May 26, 1928 | |
| Preceded by | John B. Robinson |
| Succeeded by | James Wolfenden |
| Constituency | 6th district (1897–1903) 7th district (1903–23) 8th district (1923–28) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Thomas Stalker Butler (1855-11-04)November 4, 1855 |
| Died | May 26, 1928(1928-05-26) (aged 72) Washington, D.C., US |
| Resting place | Oaklands Cemetery |
| Political party | Republican |
| Children | Smedley Butler (son) |
| Parent | Samuel Butler |
| Alma mater | West Chester University |
Thomas Stalker Butler (November 4, 1855 – May 26, 1928) was an American politician who served as aU.S. representative fromPennsylvania from March 4, 1897, until his death, having been elected to the House sixteen times. He was the father of theMarine Corps Major GeneralSmedley Butler. He wasDean of the United States House of Representatives.
Butler was born inUwchlan Township,Chester County,Pennsylvania. His father wasSamuel Butler, a farmer and banker who served in thePennsylvania House of Representatives and one term asPennsylvania State Treasurer from 1880 to 1882. Thomas attended the common schools,West Chester State Normal School, and Wyer’s Academy inWest Chester.
He later studied law, was admitted to thebar in 1877, and commenced practice in West Chester. From 1885 to 1889 and again in 1927-1928 he served as trustee of the West Chester State Normal School. Butler was appointed judge of the fifteenth judicial district of Pennsylvania in 1888.
Butler stood as an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1889. He was a delegate to theRepublican National Convention in 1892.
Elected to Congress in his first term as anIndependent Republican, he was elected as aRepublican for each succeeding term. While in Congress, he was chairman of theUnited States House Committee on Pacific Railroads (Fifty-ninth throughSixty-first Congresses) and member of theUnited States House Committee on Naval Affairs (Sixty-sixth throughSeventieth Congresses).
DuringWorld War I, Butler read into the Congressional Record the "bogus oath", which was falsely attributed to the Roman Catholic fraternal organizationKnights of Columbus, in which the oath taker pledges to war against Protestant Christians.[1] The bogus oath was refuted by theCommittee on Public Information, the wartime information agency of theWoodrow Wilson administration.[2]
Butler died in office and was buried inOaklands Cemetery, West Chester, Pennsylvania. His home at West Chester,The Butler House, was listed on theNational Register of Historic Places in 1980.[3]
{{cite book}}:ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
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| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromPennsylvania's 6th congressional district 1897–1903 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromPennsylvania's 7th congressional district 1903–1923 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromPennsylvania's 8th congressional district 1923–1928 | Succeeded by |
Chairs of theUnited States House Committee on Armed Services | ||
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| Military Affairs Committee (1822–1947) |  | |
| Naval Affairs Committee (1822–1947) | ||
| Armed Services Committee* (from 1947) | ||
*Alternately namedNational Security in 104th and 105th Congresses. | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
