The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-20
.CONGRESSPROB|NG
 ACTIVITIES OF THE
 SECURITY LEAGUE
President Says Aims of the League Were to Return to Congress 100 Per Cent
 Americans
By the Associated Press

ny tne AssOc18te0 PreSS
 Washington, December 19.-In-
 vestigation of the activities of the
 National Security League of New
 York in opposing recollection of
 members of Congress during the
 last campaign began today before
 special House committee headed
 by Representative Johnson of Ken
 lucky. The entire day was taken
 up with the examination of Col.
 Charles E. Lydecker, president of
 the league. but many other offi-
 cials of the organization will be
 heard later.
 Colonel Lydecker told the commit tee that the avowed purpose of the league last fall was to return to Con- gress men with broad vision and fore sight, and "who would be 100 per cent American in their beliefs"
 Not to mention any names," Colonel Lydecker said, q can safely say that I would have been sorely disappointed to have seen certain congressman re- turned to office. Our efforts were used seemed decidedly pro- German. and many were defeated, in some instances by fusion. The action of Congress as a whole during the great crisis just passed was magnificent, but un- fortunately there were certain members whose loyalty could be questioned. It was those men the league opposed"
 Pamphlets giving eight "acid tests' by which the loyalty of congressman should be judged were circulated throughout the country, Colonel Ly- decker said. These tests, he said, were the votes of members on preparedness measures which had been before Con- gress and which the league believed were for the welfare of the country.
 Names of congressman who voted against the measures were included in the pamphlet
 WAS NOT PARTISAN
 "At no time during the campaign was the league influenced by any partisan or political considerations Colonel Lydecker said. Tt was ted solely by a desire to see the country win the war as speedily as possible We may have made mistakes. but if we did they were made unintentionally. We campaigned for nobody and were en- tirely above board.
 The acid tests were criticized by sew eral members of the committee as be- ing unjust. Many preparedness meas ureS were not included which were just as important as the eight given, mem bers stated, and, in addition, the league did not explain that many congress men had motives for voting as they did which would have cleared them oi any suspicion of disloyalty, if made known.
 Colonel Lydecker stated the expenses of the league from September l, 1917 to August S1, 1918 amounted to s226,- 018, and the receipts totaled $2S4.35S in the same period. During the con gressional campaign, he stated, the league spent $5995.6S for postage, sal es, printing, furniture and other ex. ~rcnses. The receipts for this cam paign amounted to S8752s85.
 Records of the league were brought to the hearing for examination by the committed Other officials of the organ ization are here to be heard. They are Robert M. McKleroy, educational director; Henry l.. West, executive sec retary; Charles D. Orth, chairman ot the congressional committee; Lloyd Taylor, chairman of the universa training committed; s. Stanwood Men. ken, former president; Frederick R Gilbert, member executive committee E. L. Harvey, publicity director, ant F. D. Colhoun, cashier.
 ''The main purpose of this organization in p1tting forward platform has beer to 9systalize public opinion on the ques tioJi of league of nations and the en- trance of the United States into such a league Its plan is more suggestive than final It furnishes basis of dis cussion without going into details. This organization believes that while tht foundations of league of nations must