The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1919-07-19
DILLINGHAM; AND
PACE OPPOSE D To
PRESENT LEAGUE
Vermont Senators Declare Their
Stand on Question
EMPHATIC REPLY TO WIRE
"Unless Materially Modified ! Cannot
Support Proposed Plan for
League of Nations"

st. Adams, July 1S.-ln response
to queries by the st. Adams Messenger
both Vermont senators have announc-
ed their opposition to the League OF
Nations plan as at present presented
Feeling that the time had come
when the people of Vermont had a
right to know their senator's minds
on this matter, and feeling further
that with the treaty before them the
senators might be asked, with pro
priety, to state their stand, The Mes
senger by telegram requested the SEN
ators to give their position, which
they promptly did.
The Geographic reply of Senator
Page was as follows:
"Am today opposed to League of
Nations proposition without reserva-
TONS"
Senator Dillingham; sent the follow
ing answer by wire:
your telegram is at hand. Unless
materially modified, either by amend
ment or reservation, | cannot support
the proposed plan fer a League of
Nations"
The Messenger made no attempt to
secure the views of either Congress
men Greene or Dale because this
question ponds only in the senate,
which under the Constitution is the
ratifying body, the House not being
concerned in the matter in any way.
Both Senator Dillingham; and Sen
ator Page joined with 81 other SEN
ators of the United States some time
ago in signing what liz called the
Second Declaration Of Independence"
which set forth that the proposal for
q league of nations should be taken
up for careful and exhaustive consid-
Grafton after a satisfactory treaty of
peace with Germany had been signed.
This declaration was met by the
President with the statement that
gentlemen on this side of the Atlantic
(referring. no doubt to the senators)
would find that the treaty of peace
and the League of Nations were so
interviewer that they could not be
separated. He accomplished his pur-
pose, although during his absence
from Paris in this country, at the
time of his first visit home, the peace
delegates at Paris were making good
progress with the treaty as separate
from the League covenant. Mr. Will
son prevailed, however, and the two
were Joined.
The so-called American element in
the Senate, however does not believe
that it will have to take the League
Objectionable features and all, in
order to secure peace. The covenant
may be accepted, either with amend
ment3 or reservations, which amount
to amendments. The full sovereignty
of the country can be preserved in
this way, and without doubt this is
just what Senators Dillingham; and
Page meant in their kilograms.
That the senators are representing
their constituents in their stand there
is little doubt. While there is some
sentiment in Vermont for the League
still the great weight of opinion to-
day is decidedly in opposition. A
newspaper man making trip
through several counties of the state
recently, and asking men of all walks
and conditions of life how they felt
on the matter discovered practically
an unanimus opinion in opposition.
Senator Johnson's meeting in Bur-
ligton recently revealed the fact that
Vermonters still cling close to their
Americanism and do not wish any
of the national sovereignty given
away for League of Nations 'ex-
pertinent. For these reasons it is
said that Senators Dillingham; and
Page find themselves in their position
in harmony with the state they rep
resent.