With the backing of former San Francisco mayor and future U.S. Senator James D. Phelan , Bell was elected to the 58th Congress ( 1903-1905 ) representing California 's 2nd district . While serving , he was a member of the House Irrigation of Arid Lands Committee . In the 1904 election , he was defeated by Republican Duncan E. McKinlay . He went on to run for Governor of California in 1906 , 1910 and 1918 , losing twice as a Democrat and once as an Independent . He was a delegate to the 1908 Democratic National Convention , where he gave William Jennings Bryan 's nomination speech , and 1912 Democratic National Convention before later switching parties to become a Republican in 1921
1912 Democratic National Convention
1912 Democratic National Convention
Theodore Arlington Bell