Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-09-27
FLOOD CLEARLY STATES
POSITION ON SUFFRAGE
Congressman Prefers Methods OF
State League to Those OF Con-
grcSsional Union.
STATEMENT BY MISS CLARKE
Sets Straight Misconstrued Con.
versation Between Suffrage Dele
CATION and Congressman Flood mt
Gainesville Last Month.

In signed statement made public
yesterday, Congressman Hal D. Flood,
of tho Tenth Virginia District. makes
clear his opposition to the proposed
amendment to the Federal Constitu-
ton granting suffrage to women. Mr..
Flood does not say that he fayors
woman suffrage In any form, but does
state that he prefers tho methods be-
ing followed by the Equal SuffraEe
League OF Virginia in seeking suffrag e
through state action, rather than the
plan OF the Congressional Union, which
seeks suffrage through Il Federal
amendment
During the last week In August.
at a farmers union meeting held I'm
Cartersville, in his own district. Con-
gresham Flood spoke from the same
platform as several advocates OF the
votes for women propaganda. Mr..
Flood later had some conversation
with members OF tho committee of
Sufragists in which he complimcntcd
them on the methods they were using
In their gn--that is OF putting
the issue squarely before tho people
OF Virginia for action by the state
Legislature.
CONSTRUED REMARK AS
FAVORABLE TO SUFFRAGE
Some members OF tho delegation con
strued MIR. Floods remarks as an in,
dtcation that he favored an amend
mcnt TO the State Constitution grant
ing votes TO women. Press copy was
sent out from the Suffrage League
headquarters to the effect that Con-
gresham Flood had "relcnted" and
would no longer oppose the suffrage
movement.
Miss Adele Clark, one Of tho lead
ers of the Equal Suffrage League and
one of tho speakers at Cartcrsville,
did not recall the conversation that
way, and wrote Mr.. Flood giving her
recollection Of the conversation and
offering to make n statement to that
effect il Mr.. Flood desired it. Her
letter to Mr.. Flood follows:
During the conversation between
YOU and our committee In Gainesville
I understood you to say that you were
not opposed to the methods of the
Equal Suffrage League of Virginia in
working for woman suffrage through
State action. in contradistinction to
those OF the Congressional Union
which is working for woman suffrage
through Federal action. l have men,
toned this to several members Of our
league, as I considered your approval
OF our methods very gratifying. I re-
Trained from mentioning II to the
newspapers, however. as I considered
your statement to be an informal one.
and had ! wished to quote YOU in the
newspapers, l should have asked YOU
at that time for a formal statement
on the subject.
II shall be glad to publish a state
ment of what / personally understood
you 10 say in Cartersville should you
wish me to do So"
FLOOD CLEARLY OUTLINES
HIS POSITION ON SUFFRAGE
Mr.. Flood answered as follows:
II am opposed to the Federal amend
ment Independently OF my views on
woman's suffrage.
"In my conversation with you do
not think I stated my views on this
question. recall the conversation
just as you do. I think the methods
pursued ny the Equal Suffrage League
are much preferable to those of the
Congressional Union, and so stated.
II would he glad IL yon would give
out a statement as to what you under