The Pensacola journal., 1920-03-21
OPINIONS VARY
ON NTREATYFATE
Fletcher and Tramell, Both of
Whom Voted for Ratifica-
tion, State Attitude.
BY GEORGE n. MANNING.

Washington. March 90 = Opinions
about the capitol today regarding the
senate's rejection of the peace treaty
We're as numerous and diversified as
the arguments made in the senate for
the past year on the question of rati-
fication. Each senator seemed very
firm in his conviction that he, in his
vote on the reservations and ratifica-
ton, had unquestionably taken the
position held by the majority of Amer
lean people and that the position of
men with cont--~y views was entirely
untenable. The fact of the whole mat
ter is that the peace treaty and league
of nations is such a large subject and
SO very complex that each senator is
able to take a position for or against
the treaty and make a very convincing
argument from his view point.
Various reasons Were advanced by
senators for their vote to ratify or
reject. First there was the group who
did not want the league of nations in
any form, second those who did not
want it with reservations because it
was unacceptable to the president.
third. those who wanted it adopted in
any reasonable shape, fourth, those
who would accept the reservations, and
then many others with various other
view points, each controlling in the
opinion of those by whom they were
held
Both Senators Fletcher and Tram
NELL of Florida. voted for ratification
of the treaty.
Senator Fletcher believes the twenty
Democrats who voted with the IA
Republican "irreconcilables" against
ratification made a serious mistake
from which the country and the world
will suffer.
Il regard it as most unfortunate
that the senate did not adopt the
treaty with the reservations" said SEN
ator Fletcher today
*Some of those reserva tons L have
always opposed. but I do not think
they destroyed the league of nations
or did it irreparable injury"
'It seemed to me we should have
the treaty now or never with the re-
servations, or not at all. The ratify-
ing resolution was an improvement
over the one submitted last Novem-
Der.
Il regret exceedingly that all those
who favored the league of nations and
the treaty from the beginning could
not see their way clear to vote for
the resolution.
Twenty Democrats who have always
consistently favored the treaty and
the league, with reservation which did
not destroy it or without reservations,
voted for the resolution. Three Dem
ocrats who have always opposed the
league and the treaty voted against
ratification. Twenty Democrats who
have heretofore favored the league and
the treaty voted against the resolution
ThaSa rtr1
the IA Republicans irreconciliabIes who
have bitterly opposed any league, and
the three Democrats who have taken
the same position. In other words,
the Democrats who voted against the
resolution Joined the II Republicans
and the three Democrats who have
throughout opposed any ratification on
any terms
Il believe they made serious mis-
take. mistake from which the coun-
try, our associates in the war and the
world generally will suffer"
Senator Trammell in speaking of the
treaty rejection said: While I had
not supported some of the reserva-
tions, and preferred to see some of
them omitted, l supported ratification
because l felt that there still remained
enough good IN the league of nations
TO join with the other countries in an
effort to promote peace A vote for
ratification, meant we would co-oper
ate with other nations TO settle dis
putes in forum OF peace instead of
fighting ii out upon the battlefield
that we would cooperate with others
TO bring about disarmament. instead
OF continuing a policy of building IN
OF army and a powerful navy with the
enormous expense to the American
people to maintain these military or
ganizations. To ratify the treaty.
would also in my opinion result in
settling in a large measure the nm
settled conditions Of business in the
United States as well as have a de-
sirab1e effect in fastening an adjust
ment OF the disturbed conditions
throughout the world do not regard
that the reservatinos DESTROYED the
main broad purpose of the league OF