The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1919-07-25
FLETCHER Of FLORIDA
CAN SEE NO DANGER
IN LEAGUE COVENANT 7
SENATOR SAYS OPPONENTS TAKE
NO COGNIZANCE OF PRO.
GRESS MADE IN WORLD

Washington. July 2i.-"The crosses
that speak OF heroism and sacrifice,
extending from the English channel
10 the Swiss border. reach out their
arms in mutual appeal TO the repre-.
sentatives of civilized peoples to see TO
" that such slaughter, destruction and
parbarity shall never again blight the
earth" said Senator Fletcher OF Flor.
ioa' speaking in the senate today in
behalf OF the League OF Nations.
The president has pointed the way
oi hope for humanity and assurance
Tor the world. Shall this senate turn
its back and refuse its advice and con.
sent. IL Is due the dead and manned
or all the allied armies, and the be-
feaved OF the home population" he
said that the enlightened nations OF
the earth should see to 1t, on the final
settlement OF terms. that provision be
made whereby never again should any
autocrat or military clique be able to
pour the sweet milk of Concord into
He'll"
Expressing regret that the senate,
cannot unite, as did those around the
peace table" Senator Fletcher criti-
cised opponents of the league cove
nant inclusion in the treaty.
They not only oppose the league
OF nations plan. 1t is not worth while
to discuss the details of the plan sub.
mitted, so far as they are concerned.
IT could not be made satisfactory TO
them. They argue that any covenant
with other nations, any alliance, would
mean a certain REIMBURSEMENT of our
sovereignty, a sacrifice in some de-
gree of our independence, and they
are unwilling to allow either.
Il am utterly unable to see any such
danger or find any grounds for objec
tions in the terms Of the covenant sub.
mitted. There would be, of course,
some right OF free and Independent
action surrendered just as there is un'
der any contract an individual may
make. The consideration received is
a fair exchange In the one case, as in
the other. The covenants of all the
other nations, the REIMBURSEMENT and
yielding of arbitrary unrestrained ac'
ton on their part, is an important
consideration. The concession which
are mutual for certain and fixed OBJ
jects, is shared by all for the good OF
all. The return Of what is given up
balances the giving"
Pointing to the Improvement in ia
cilities for transportation and commu'
nication during the past century, Sen
ator Fletcher said that those who
held the Isolation idea" took no cog
ni3ance of progress made in the
sciences and arts, and ignore the IN
crease in population and, expansion
which has brought all the peoples OF
the earth into elbow touch"
THE earth has been compressed
he said whether we like it or not,
we are involved to some extent into the
fates of others"
Discussing detailed objection to spe-
cific sections of the treaty, Senator
Fletcher said many of the authors
of objections We're prompted by the
personal animosity toward the presi-
dent and others by partisan bitter
ness, while both groups desired to par
alyze his leadership at whatever cost.
Others doubted because they lacked
vision and did not grasp the subject,
he said.
Il venture the prediction that III
all the years to come, in actual prac
tice, military force will not be neces-
sary to restrain any law-breaking ma
tons" he said, in urging the eff
cheney Of barriers against war which
he said the league would erect. "The
cooperation of all other nations to h
isolate such a nation and
refuse all intercourse or communica-
ton with it will be efficient"