Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-12-19
SECURITY LEAGUE
|SUNDER INQUIRY
Alleged Reflections on Loyal
ty of Congressman Be-
ing Investigated.

Investigation of the National Sc
curity League of New York, with re-
spect to its. alleged reflections during
the last campaign upon the loyalty
of members of Congress, was begun
today by a special House committee.
headed by Representative johnson OF
Kentucky.
Officers of the league appeared for
examination, bringing with them
many of the leagues papers and rec
ords. In the delegation were Col.
Charles. E. Lydecker. president; DIR.
Robert NJ McElroy. educational d1=
rector: Henry L. West executive sec
rotary: Charles u. Orth, chairman OF
the leagues congressional committee;
Lloyd Taylor, chairman of the: uni
versal military training committee;
F.. l.. Harvey, publicity Director, and
T. D. Calhoun, cashier.
Col. Lydecker Questioned.
Col. Lydecker was questioned by
Chairman Johnson as to whether the
league had taken a partisan or po-
liticUi stand or interfered in any
way with the election of any officials.
The aim of the league since it's
organization. and its only aim Col.
Lydecker said. has been to win the
war ] can say with all sincerity
that there has never been any digres-
sion from this aim. The league has
made every effort to keep entirely
out of politics. Its hands are clean"
Believed Clear of Politics.
Asked by the chairman if any mem
bers of the league had entered the
political field, Col. Lydecker said that
as the membership extended over the
he mn vi
BILE to keep in close contact with all,
but that as far as he knew every
member had followed the desire of
the league in that respect.
Aided in Forming League.
Col Lydecker said he has been in
close touch with the league ever since
its organization. having been present
at the Hotel Belmont. New York, when
to arouse the country to realiZa-
ton of it's "defenseless and unpre-
pared" condition.
Leaders in the movement were j.
Bernard Walker. George Haven Put
nam, Herbert Barry, Lawrence F. Alb
bolt. J. NJ. Wainwright, Franklin @.
Brown and himself, Col. Lydecker
said. Herbert Barry was temporary
secretary. A resolution was adopted
asking for a congressional inquiry
of the country's arrsed forces.
The league grew rapidly from that
time on Col. Lydecker said. 1T
met with a spontaneous reception
from the thinking people of the coun-
try. who realized the country was in
no position to defend itself against a
powerful enemy"
Questioned by Chairman Padget in re-
gard to whom the first checks of the
league were made payable. Col. Ly-
7 l., sui Il 1IHys
by referring to the records.
Seeks to Show Records.
TN regard to that I wish to state
that the leagues records are abso-
lutely complete in every respect and
| would like to show them to the
committee" Col. Lydecker said. They
show from whom every penny of the
money we spent was received and how
every penny was spent. They were
kept with the most scrupulous ac-
curacy.'
In reply to a question if the league
rendered financial aid to any large
preparedness mass meetings held IN
New York city or elsewhere, Col.
Lydecker said he had no knowledge
of any such aid being given except
for those meetings held by the league
itself.
Salaries now received by officers of
the league were given by Col. Ly-
decker.
Dr. Robert NJ. McElroy, educational
director, receives $4,000 a year. Col
Lydecker said. Henry L. West, ex-
ecutive secretary, receives $500;
E. L. Harvey, publicity director.
S41G0; Miss Eta V. Layton, director
of American naturalization bureau,
S2,4OO and p D. Calhoun. S2.oSO.
Salaries were very modest when
tho lea pue first Starfe0'' he said "aS
many of the officials were willing to
serve the league at nominal pay be-
cause of it's patriotic work"