Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-04-14
FLOOD ADVOCATES
CLARK AS LEADER
Declares Former Speaker Log
ical Man for Minority
Chieftain.
DENIES STRONG OPPOSITION
Says Majority Of Democrats
Elected for Next Session
Favor Champ.


w NASHiNiION, April =. = Repre-
sentative H. u. Flood, of Virginia.
today gave out the foiIowIng state
mcnt:
Some OF the Democratic members
elect of the Sixty-sixth Congress have
formed an organization to defeat the
election of Hon. Champ Clark for the
minority leadership in tina, Congress
A number o: these gentlemen have
Published statements and interviews.
], therefore. think it proper for one
mt in that organization TO say d
word
My opinion is that. viewing the
question OF leadership from the stand
point Of the interests OF the Democratic
eouniry, Champ Clark is IncomparaLIy
the best man The Dcmcc-ats in Con
sress could choose; and | believe am.
Is entertained by Very large ma iorits
OF the Democratic mem bcrs OF tbs
The interviews and statements o,
INC gentlemen referred 20. however
lion ,Ss 5so:r.E5 fss5 ET;.; Rfs aSenF
there IS strong opposition TO the cleo
lion q: Chamn Clark as minority lead
er oy the Democratic caucus; and a
strong sentiment in favor OF the c!ea-
i!on OF steering committee with
power TO select lis own chairman. who
is 10 De eN oihcio leader. | am GER
tiied.
Here are some Of the facts tina,
have induced me TO reach this con-
..,.. Claims Majority Favorable.
members OF the next House. most o.
lIousc., and many Of whom have 70.
several terms been members of the
House. Of these 1875 members a care.
lud inquiry SATISFIES me that ~ least
loo, and probably more, are for NJ,
clark. These members believe tina;
OF all times in the history OF the party
this is the most UNFIT time TO creats
discord and division in the Democratic
membership OF the House; tha; this is
time when there should be the Vi
most harmony and cooperation; anu
tion would insure no, only a -virile and
splendid leadership, but such harmony
and co -oRcration.
Second, There are IN. all hfty -nine
standing, committees OF the House.
OF the chairnsnI OF these in the las.
Hoase.praeticaffy all vii be mem
bcrs ofithe next Rousc-only FIVE are
in the anti-Ciark movement
Third. OF these ntty-nine commit;
tees. forty-one. including Tho Rules
OF the forty-one chairmcn Of such
legislative committees in the last
House: ! believe only three are IN the
dhNi-SidI n movement.
Many Boosting Clark.
Fourth The members Of the larger
legislative committees OF the las,
the mex, House are o%erwncim,nslv nnnsI so' oo
Clark. The opposition VIII have but
few supporters from such committees
Naval AppfGpTa'Sni TairH S;arT 0,ssn Aasr
and Iiarbors. Public Buildings ana
Grounds. Rules. Banitng and Currency,
Merchant Marine and Fisheries. Inter
G "A E tfn A
Office and Post Roads. OF the tea
minority members OF the Ways ana
Means Committee (who Will no doubl
constitute the Democratic committee
on committeesl. only one is an anti
Clark man. Clark. is also very strong
with the membership of the othe.
committees not above mentioned
;slative Committees with such Demo
cratic mem6ership and chairmanshin
Legislation OF the Democratic n: par part,
and adm inistration before the war, ana
AZ or the measures OF the admins
,ra'ion ira since |9 entered the war. In
cnairmcn and the committees that re
ported them had the helpful aid o,
speaker Clark.
be only siNty-siX Democratic members
who were members OF the House whcn
Champ, Clark was minority leadcr.
They know the able, aggressive, CT
:ective and harmonious leadership he
then displayed OF these sixty ST.
members only six arc opposed ~
Clark'S election.
Denies Opposition Claims.
'1s Il conceivably possible that the
many Democratic members OF the mex,
House not in the anti-Clark move.
meut are less loyal TO the administra
;ion and less devoted to the interests
and welfare OF the party and the coun-
try. and possess poorer Judgment a..
to now best 10 serve tina; interest
and welfare than the few in the ant!
Clark movement
In answer 10 the claim OF ,hess
gentlemen that some Of the Cabinci
memtcrs are quietly behind thci.
movement. and that a; the proper time
these officials will come out for |,
with open and active assistance I will
say that have Investigated this claim
and feel fully justified in saying tha,
il is unwarranted.
Not questioning for one moment tho
sincerity and good motives of the
members OF the anti-Clark movement,
Will say that in my judgment Its
continued agitation and efforts can
only result in fomenting discord and
division among Democrats in the next
Congress who should work in the most
hearty accord. Every Democrat wishes
TO avoid any breach in our ranks
those who are for Clark and those
VINO are opposed to him-and I. trust
and believe that when the caucus
meets there will be nothing done or
said to cause the slightest weaken
ing of our organization"