The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-04-14
QUESTION AS TO WHETHER HUNS
WILL SIGN PEACE TREATY Is ALL
ABSORBING TOPIC AT CONFERENCE
Champ Clark Best
Man for Leadership
Says Chairman Flood
Virginia Congressman Declares
Former Speaker Is Incom-
parably the Man to Choose.


Hal d. Flood. of Virginia, chairman OF
tie committee on foreign affairs, gives
out the following statement in refer
snce to the opposition among men in
the Democratic party to the claims of
t. mec Speaker Champ Clark as leader
If the next congress.
Some of the Democratic members
elect of the Sixtysixth congress nave
formed an organization to defeat the
election of Hon. Champ Clark for the
III inority leadership in that congress.
mum Der OF these gentlemen have
published statements and interviews.
therefore think il proper for one not
n that organization to say a word.
My opinion is that viewing the oucs
ton of leadership from the standpoint
of the interests of the Democratic
party. the administration. and the
country. Champ Clark is incomparahly
the best man the Democrats in con-
gress could choose; and l believe I
am accurate when say that this view
is entertained by a very large major
ity OF the Democratic members OF the
next congress,
The interviews and statements of
the gentlemen referred to. however
sincere they may be. leave the impress
sion that a great row Is on among the
Democrats of the house. that there la
strong opposition to the election of
Cn3mp 1IAfk as minority iea0ef pS
the Dem ocratic cause. and strong
sentiment in favor OF the creation Of
steering committee with power to
select it's own chairman, VINO Is to be
ex official leader. am certain these
im pressions are not justified. Here
are some OF the facts that have induced
me 10 reach this conclusion;
list. There are 1915 Democratic mem
bers of the next house. most OF whom
were also mem bers of the last house.
and many of whom have for several
terms been mem bers Of the house az
these 1s5 members careful inquiry
satisfies me that at least $50 and
probably more are for Mr.. Clark.
These members believe that of all
times in the history OF the party this
| Is the most unfit time 10 create disv
cord, and division in the Democratic
membership OF the house; that this is
I a time when there should be the ut
| most harmony and cooperation: and
/ they believe that Champ Clark's cleo
| tion wouid insure not only a Vsrile and
splendid leadership. but such harmony
and cooperation.
End There are in all hfty-nine
standing committees Of the house. OF
the chairnen OF these in the last house
practically all Will be members of the
next house-only five are in the anti
Clark movement
srd. OF these ffty-nine committees
forty-one, including the rules com.
mittee, are legislative committees. OF
the forty-one chairmen of such legis-
lstive committees in the last house /
! believe only three are In the anti
Clark movement
Attn, The members OF the larger leg
islative committees OF the last house
" no have been returned to the next
house are Overwhelmingly for Clark
/ The opposition Will have but few sup
portors from such committees as ap-
rropriAttons, foreign affairs judiciary
naval affairs, military affairs. rivers
and harbors. public buildings and
grounds. rules. banking and currency
merchant marine and fisheries, inter-
state and foreign commerce and post
office and post roads. OF the ten
minority members of the WAYS and
means committee {who will no doubt
constitute the Democratic COMMITTEES
on conmitteesl, only one is an anti
Clark man. Clark liz also very strong
with the membership OF the other
committees not above mentioned
Through those and tho other ic-;S-
lative committees with such Demo
cratic membership came All the bepe-
fcent constructive legislation of the
Democratic party and administration
before the war. and all of the meas
ures of the administration since we
entered the war. In the passage OF
these measures, the chairman and the
committees that reported them had the
helpful aid of Speaker Clark
5th- In the next house there viii be
orly sixty-siX Democratic members
who were members of the house when
Champ Clark was minority leader.
They knew the able. aggressive, erec-
tive and harmonious leadership he
then displayed or these sixty-six
members only six are opposed to
Clark's election
Is IL conceivahly possible that the
many Democratic members Of the next
house not In the anti-Clark movement
are less loyal to the administration and
less devoted to the interests and well
fare OF the party and the country and
possess poorer Judgment as TO how
best to serve that interest and welfare
than the few In the anti-Clark move
ment.
In answer TO the claim Of these gem
tlemen that some OF the cabinet mem
bers are quietly behind their move
nient, and that at the proper time
these officials viii come out for il with
open and active assistance. 7 will say
that have Investigated this claim
and feel justified in saying that II i
Continued on Page Two)