The Marietta journal. (Marietta, Ga.) 1918-1944, 1919-09-19
Distorting the Truth

q ONE days ago we were advised by the headline
artists of the papers the south that Senator
Simmons had joined the enemies of the president and the
league of nations and for amending the treaty.
1t all started from the story of reporter the Wash
ngton Post who very anxious to help those who are
fighting the president and the story, wholly misleading
though it was eagerly reprinted by others of the
stripe.
In order that you may judge fairly about the matter
give below from the record of September the state
ment of Senator Simmons made upon the floor of the
the day after the misleading article appeared In
of the offending papers have correction.
Mr.. SIMMONS. Mr. President, rise to a question
of personal privilege 1t is very well known that
have participated to very limited extent in the dis
cusson of the various matters that have before
the Senate during the present session. have not
taken any part whatsoever in the discussions growing
out of the treaty and the league of nations covenant
Ny only communications with reference to the latter
subject have been expressed in private conference
with my colleagues both sides of the Chamber. l
not of having expressed my views with ref
to the treaty with anything like fulness to
any representative of the press except from my
own state
On yesterday there appeared in the Washington
Post quite lengthy statement on the first page of
that paper, written by of the correspondents of
the paper and published in large type article which
purports to give my views and my position the
league of nations with great fullness of detail.
1t is not my purpose to enter into any discussion
of my position in reference to the league of nations
of the league itself at this time, engage in
any controversy with the author of the artcle but
simply to make the statement of my position which
will show that the article msrepresented my position
in every particular will, therefore, without going
into detail content myself with the following brief
general statement with respect to this matter
The statements contained in the Sundays issue of
the Washington Post relative to my position with re-
spect the treaty and league of nations covenant
unauthorized and fagrantly misrepresents my at
ttude with respect to that great document
/ am in favor of and would gladly vote for the
treaty and the league covenant it originally
presented to the Senate by the President, without
amendment reservation. l agree with the Presi-
dents Interpretation of the controverted provisions
of that document, and l do not believe it contains
also believe it is of the highest importance to this
country and the world that it should be ratified with
out further delay.
However, after thorough study of the situation
in the Senate, convinced that some concessions
in the way of reservations will have to be made to
its ratification, and so believing, have
centy discussed with number of my colleagues the
advsability of reaching some compromise between
those who favor the treaty without reservation and
those who insfavor of it with conservative
Vations of an nterpretative character,
/ am utterly opposed however to the reservations
proposed by the Foreign Relations Committee. Some
of these reservations are in substance and essence,
amendments which would radically change the scope
and character of the instrument, emascuating some
of the main provisions of the league andwhich would
call Tor reconsideration by the peace conference.