The sun., 1918-12-20
SECURITY MILLION
DROPS TO $4,000
League President Testifies Be-
fore Congress Committee
to Explain Activities.
JUST WATCHED THE VOTE
Carnegie and Rockefeller
Gave Huge Sums to Pro-
mote the Work.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1e.-1nstead OF
the million or more dollars alleged to
have been spent by the National Sc
curity League in trying TO defeat
candidates for Congress whose rec
ords did not measure up to the stand
ard set by the organization. it was
shown to-day that less than $4,000
was so disbursed. This was brought
out before the special committee
named by Speaker Clark.
Under authority of the Frear reso-
luton the probe was started to-day
with Col. Charles e. Lydecker, presi-
dent of the league, on the stand.
One Of the first pieces OF evidence
laid before the committee was An
ancial statement OF the Congressional
Campaign Committee Of the league
for the six months from June to No
vember, inclusive. This statement
showed receipts during those months
amounting TO $S.752. while this COM
mittee spent 1896.
Committee All wrong"
1t developed that with one excep-
ton all members OF the investigating
committee have failed to come UP to
the 100 per cent. Americanism'
standard set by the National Security
League on the voting records OF
House members. This standard the
league fixed on eight important war
votes.
BY this test Representative John
son (ky), chairman Of the commit
tee. voted wrong six out OF
eight times: Representative Harrison
(Miss.) voted wrong four times: Rep
resentative Saunders tVa-). five times
Representative Caraway (Ark.), four
times; Representative Browne (WiS)
seven times and Representative Rea.
Wis CNeb.), FIVE times. Representa-.
tive Walsh (Mass.) voted right on all
OF the test measures.
Representative Reavis demanded or
! whose authority the eight measures
taken by the league as the measure OF
| patriotism were decided.
Former Secretary of War Stimsor
and former Secretary of the Navy
Meyer, among others. helped formulate
the QUESTIONABLE. They have always
| been closely identified with the league
have been sympathetic with the pur-
poses and regarded the eight measures
as highly important" Col. Lydecker
responded.
Carnegie n ockefeller Backing.
The committee then wanted to know
! xxyhn he lor trih 10 H.
league came from. Col Lydecker said
the Carnegie Corporation gave $3.50. o0t
! and John D. Rockefeller $4,000. The
/ idea Of the league was due to sugges
( lions by F. Stanwood Menken ant
Augustus II. Gardner of Massachu'
sets. Col. Lydecker explained.
The league is entirely non-partisar
and non political" he declared. "Oui
aim has been TO insure preparedness
| for war. Before war was declared We
| tried by every means to impress the
country with the necessity OF prepar'
! ing the country for defence agains
| the possible attack Of hostile nations.
The eight votes used as a STANDARD
by the league were then scrutinizeC
! by the committee.
"Do you think 1t fair to include tn,
McI.emore resolution when the Hous,
did not have opportunity TO vote di
rectly on IT," Representative Reavi
asked.
! Col. I.ydecker admitted that Il would
have been fairer II the manner II
which the vote on the McLemore reso
luton was taken had been explained
by the league.
| IT can assure you that the leagu,
meant to be fair, though" Col. Ly
decker said, land II II was unfair II
! that matter the members affected coult
easily explain that in their districts"
What moral right did you have Il
force members to make any explana
tion?" Mr. Reavis demanded. "Wh!
! did you not explain. for instance, tina
I distinctly stated in the debate on tn,
McLemore resolution that I was op
posed TO 1t, but wanted 1t TO be votet
on squarelyT
Root and Parker Brought in.
In most cases Col. Lydecker con
tended the vote on the McLemore reso
| luton reflected the attitude Of tn,
House members. Col. Lydecker theI
had his attention called to the use o
the names of Elihu Root and Alton b
| Parker in the literature sent out b!
the league and was asked II these mel
were aware Of II.
"They had the opportunity Of know
ing" was the reply.
ibid they help prepare IT," Repre-
sentative Harrison asked.
"The chairman OF our Congressiona
Campaign Committee prepared tn
uuestionnaires." said Col. Lydecker
but ] do not know of my own knowl
edge whether Mr.. Root and Mr.. Parke
actually read them"
Col Lydecker told the committe
that he had written to Speaker Clarl
- ,o y1aaphars ~ the tuyn patIooa