Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-12-17
FLOOD DEFINITELY
DECLINES TO ENTER
RACEFOR GOVERNOR
Tenth District Congress
man Disposes Of Persis-
tent Political Rumors.
MAKES CLEAR HIS POSITION
IN REPLY TO FREEMAN EPES
Minority Leader Claude Kit
chin Says Virginian Needed
in Congress.
FIELD IS CLEAR FOR TUCKER
Seems Certain Now Lexington Man
Will Have No Oppo-
sition.

Representative II. -. Flood viii not
enter the race for the Democratic
nomination for Governor next year.
This question. which has been upper
most in the mindu of public men
throughout tho State for many
months, is definitely answered by
Representative Flood himself
In an open letter to r. Freeman
ispes, of Blackstone. Mr. Flood makes
ciear MS position. lie relinquishes
All personal desires for other honors.
ana. mainly In response TO the call
from the leaders of the Democratic
party in the United States, who point
out that no can be of vast service
10 his party and his country by re-
manning In Congress at this time. de-
cides TO remain In the House OF Rep
iescntatives as spokesman for the
Tenth District of Virginia.
In his letter, declining to announce
himself as a candidate. Mr.. Flood de-
ciares he is greatly moved that he
should be regarded by SO many pco-
Pile In Virginia az worthy Of the high
honor for which ne has been men
toned. He quotes n letter from Rep
resentativc Claude a. Kitchin. OF
North Carolina. who Will be chosen
as the minority leader in the next
Congress, which reflects the senti-
nent Of many other prominent Dem
ocratic leaders. and. after thanking
his friends for their expressions of
loyalty TO him. atatcs that he will
not. at this time, enter the race. q 4
Field Open TO Taeker.
Tho elimination OF Mr. Flood ms a
possible candidate. leaves the field
In rN,.
nearly year ago announced himself
Westmoreland Davis. The general Inn
preston is that Mr.. Tucker will have
no opposition within tho Democratic
party. and that his nomination will
como as an acknowledgment of his
patriotic activities In the service OF
his State for many years. Mr. Tuck
er's organization is practically per-
feet. His friends throughout the State
have been for many months engaged
in paving the way to the Governors
Mansion, and there seems &c be the
foregone conclusion that Harry ST.
George Tucker Ia to be the next Gov
ernor OF Virginia.
There have been q number Of spas
modic movements toward naming
some candidate to oppose Mr. Tucker
but to date nothing tangible has re-
suited. The names of State Senator
L. Lee Trlnkle and State Senator C.
Walter Mapp have been mentioned,
out neither OF them has been able,
SO far. to see his way clear.
Has Served State Many Years.
Represent ative Flood has served
the people OF Virginia. and those of
the Tenth Congressional District,
particularly, for many years. He has
served upon many OF the important
committees OF Congress. and during
tho war period was chairman Of the
Foreign Affairs Committee. His SER
vices are considered by his colleagues
as invaluable to the Democratic
party. and the fact that with the most
stubborn opposition In his career at
the last election, he won by the
largest majority he ever received, is
an indication of the affection the
people OF his own district have for
him.
SIR. Floods letter to .Mr. Epes in.
dicates plainly that ne will not enter
the subernatorial race at this time.
The letters of Messrs. Flood and
kitchln follow:
House of Representatives.,
Washington. u. c.
December 13. 1920.
T. Freeman Epes. Esq. Blackstone,
Virginia.:
My Dear Mr.. Epes:
have received your letter of
few days ago asking me to become
candidate for the Democratic nomi-
nation for Governor Of Virginia. I
have received similar letters from
friends throughout the State. and
have been urged personally by a
great number of other friends to
make this race. I appreciate most
highly the confidence and friendship
which these letters and personal yi.-
it's Indicate.
am greatly moved that T should
be regarded by so many people in
Virginia as worthy of this high Of
fee. would feel much honored to
be Governor of my native State
which love and which I have tried
TO serve to the best OF my humble
ability for the past thirty years. En-
tertaining the views do on ques-
tions of state policy. which are the
outgrowth Of this service, believe
could mt this time be offs some SER
vice to the State and her people. This
belief would mako the service rs
Governor particularly pleasing to me.
\ Need to Remain IN Go.gress.
must consider, however. that I
have just been elected to- the sixty
seventh Congress from the, Tenth Vir-
ginia district, and many iJof my
friends and constituents have urged
motto remain IN Congress. L we
theso people much fors TIE s}r sloyaityi
TO me In thss past, ana psSf tSui sfiysin
i. the sssssat sssst q: sSss lssas|