The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-12-20
NATIONAL SECURITY
!. LEAGUE PROBED BY
CONGRESS INQUIRY
Colonel Lydecker Defen d S
the Organization as
Patriotic One.

WASHINGTON. Dec. ls.-1nVestlSa-
ton OF the activities OF tho National Sc
c,1r;,y league Of New York in opposing
reelection of numbers Of congress DUR
INK the last campaign. began today DC
fore 4 special house committee hcaoe"
by Representative Johnson OF hentucAS
The entire day was taken up with Ihe
examination Of Colonel Charles T.. Ly
decker. president OF the league. ou'
many other officials OF the oTGuniza-
tion will be heard later.
Colonel Lydccker told the commit
teo that the vowed purpose CT the
league last fall was to return 10 CON
gress men with broad vision and 1ore.
sight and who would be loo percent
American in their beliefs.
"Ent In mention any Names" Colonel
Lydecker said Il can safely say That l
would have been surely disappointed 70
have seen certain congressman returneu
TO office. Our efforts were used agalnse
those lnen. some OF which seemed declo-
rdly pro-tier7nan. and many were de-
crateL In some instances by ruslon.
The action of congress as whole our
ing tho great crisis Just passed was
magnificent but. unfortunatcly thGie
wer,. certain members whose loyalty
could be questioned 1t was those men
the league opposed.
Tho "Actd" Tests
Pamphlets giving eight acid" tests
bv Which the loyalty OF congressman
throushout the country. Colonel Lydeck.
or said. These tests. he said, were the
votes Of members on Preparedness
measures which had been before con.
gresS. and which the league believed
, wero for the welfare Of the country.
Names Of congressman VINO Fo'S
against tho measures were included II
the pamphlets. VIM
the league influenced by any partisan
or political considerations. Colonc
Lyd"ckcr stated. 1T WAS nctnaEcd Sols
~ by desire to sec the country cry
the war MS speedily aS possible. We may
have rnadn mistakes. but if We did thcS
were made unintentionally. We cam
paiSned for nobody, and were ehufel'
above. board"
| Tho acid tests wcrr criticized by ScV
! cr;,l members OF the committee rs nHlnt
unjust Many preparedness measure:
, we're not included which were just a.
, important as tho eight given; mcInpct'
! stated and In addition tho league az!
not explain that many conEreSSmcn M, M,
motives for voting as they did. whict
: would have cleared them of any Sus
: picion Of disloyalty If made known.
Expended Large SuuS.
! Colonel Lydeckcr stated that tho *
! p"nscS OF The league from S"pt"mhcr
l 1917. 70 August Il. l9lS. amounted q
!! s22i.n1S and tho r""": pts tot;tl"d $:St'
S5S in tn" same period. During the con
| sr"ssional campaign. hc said III" i"aEu
} spcnt S599lGS for postaG" salaries
! printing furnitur" and other Expenses
! The r"c"iDtS for this campaign amount
cd to- So 1885.
Records rr IN" lcagle w"rc orouEh
ro,nmittrc. Other officials Of the or
caniz:ttiuns ar" hero +" b" heard. rhc'
a7c nr Enhrrt N. MnElroy; "dncatiGn n,
nj director: Horny l.. W"St, cNrcutiE'
secretary: Charles d. Ortiz chairman %
III. Congressional committee; il"yf
! Taylor. chairman of tho uniFrrsa
Training committees; S. Stan"nnd Mci
ken fhrm"r president; Frcd"rick X
, Cnudcri member rIncuti"H c"mmlti"n
T.. l.. Ilarr"y. publicity director. and L
u. Calhoun. cashier.