The Washington herald., 1919-01-24
CALLED WILSON
GREAT IDEAL|ST'
National Security League
Official Also Opposed Idea
of Third Term.

That President Wilson was in
strong disfavor with the National Sc
curity League was revealed at yes
terday's sessions of the Congressional
probe of the league, when Represen-
tatve Browne read into the record a
letter the committees examiners had
taken from the leagues files.
The author of the letter was Dr.
Robert McNutt McElroy. educational
director of the organization. He said:
"The election OF a man like Ford
at this time" wrote DR. McElroy,
who draws a salary of $1,000 year
TO conduct an educational propa-
ganda- and whose range of duties
does not extend into the political
field, would be most disheartening
and his choice by the Chief Executive
is equally so.
Call Wilson IdenIist.
The unfortunate thing from the
point of view of the league would Dc
that many of the indictments which
clearly disqualfy MIR. Ford must in
evitably be read into the record OF
the great ideaiist himself Person
ally. I have no hesitation in express
ing my opposition to the idea Of A
AllhN Atl III AOE hillls DuA 1 dll lltl ~
certain that it would be wise for an
association like this in a great cam
paign of education frankly to state
its opinion that he is disqualified by
his past record for a reelection"
DIR. McElroy's letter in part con-
tinues:
There cannot be two foot rules,
one for the great idealiSt living in the
1f ynrI,ith ~
associates with common counsel and
another foot rule for the less ambi-
tious mortsis who are candidates for
the other Offices
The methods adopted by the league
to defeat Mr.. Ford as disclosed. re-
moved any vestiCe Of doubt which
might have fingered in the minds OF
those who have followed the inquiry
that the lea que was other than a
purely patriotic organization.
A letter from Henry L. West. eX-
ecutive secretary of the league. to DIR.
Hobbs. said:
II beg to advise you that that the
question of Mr. Ford's candidacy for
the United States Senate from Mich
igan was discussed at the executive
committee meeting last Wednesday,
and l am directed by Col Lydecker.
president of the league. to acQuaint
you with the fact that a resolution
was adopted authorizing him to ap-
Joint a committee composed OF the
citizens of Michigan to look into the
Ford situation and to determine
whether the league can aid in the
work of preventing the nomination or
election of Mr.. Ford, and what assist
ance can be rendered If such assist
ance is desired"
DR.. Hobbs wrote to DR.. MCElroy on
September 2 that he felt sure Ford
is not dead till after election. IL then,
and l hope you will turn loose your
guns" DR.. McElroy replied that he
was glad Ito have your opinion on his
| death" and that he was sorry il
has been postponed"
| On September 25 DR.. Hobbs urged
by all means turn loose on Ford
He is not dead yet"
I The league then turned loose
its big gun. The shell it fired from
New York into Michigan was a
| pamphlet containing a summary OF
DR.. Hobbs article setting out Mr.
Ford's alleged record. One OF the
most prominent paragraphs in this
record" declared that Mr.. Ford had
openly opposed the United State:
loan" to the allies in 1915. Wher
confronted with the fact that thi:
government made no loans to tht
allies until after war was declared
in 1917. E. l. Harvey, press agent
through whose department tbs
pamphlet was sent out, confessed
that he attempted to convey tn,
false impression that Mr.. Ford hac
set himself up in opposition to thu