New-York tribune., 1919-03-04

o'hcr patriotic war endeavors- so val
ued the great educational work of the
National Security League that they
gave llberally in its support. But not
ono penny of this money was spent by
the leagues committee on Congress.
us work was financed entirely by con-
'riput'ons for that specific purpose,
mostly in small sums"
Colonel Lydeckcrs statement fol-
lows, in part:
For over two months this commit
tee of the House of Representatives. at
great expense of time, which could bet
ter have been devoted to the nation s
pressing Legislative problems, and Of
moncy-thc committee operated under
an appropriation Of $25 900 has been
conducting so-calcd Investigation
of the National Security League. 1t
has IN reality been II concrete exhibi-
ton OF political pique and ofIlccholdng
bumptiousncss.
Gross Unfairncss Charged
The qucstioncrs by snears. by in
s'huaton, by absolutely ignoring the
great work which the league has done
ana mas planned for the future, and by
pressing every minor point that mipht
seem to place the League at n disnd.
vantage displayed unusual capacity
Tor unfalrncss.
me officers of the league have sus-
pccted sincc the opening hcnrinE that
the committees report would be the
sevcrest possible nrraignmcnt of the
league and its supporters We will,
pronably, prepare detailed answer ns
soon as we receive copy Of the report.
Ihc investigation was conceived in
error, If not in malice. The Representa-
ttVe James A. Frcar, Of Wisconsin,
who introduced the resolution in the
House which resulted in the 'invcstiga-
ton, voted against the declaration Of
war and against tabling the notorious
McLcmore resolution. The House was
misled into taking his false and fantas-
tical rawlings seriously
1.-The entire expenditure of the league
since It's organization in December. 1914,
IN all its great work for preparedness,
its many win-the-war activities, and
ts great Americanization propaganda,
extending over four years, have totalcd
only $521 678.10. After these facts
were presented to the committee at
the opening sessions the reputable
newspapers Of the country either ig-
nored the Investigation or extended
their syspathy to the league for the
unnecessary annoyance to which it was
being Subjectde.
"The committee displayed very
evident desire to convict the league Of
violation Of the Corrupt Practices
Act in not having filed statement of
the expenditures of it's Committee on
Congress- To tell the truth, it rever
occurred to any officer of the league
that its absolutely non partisan and
non polltlcal--ln any unselhsh inter
pretatlon of the word-activities last
fall came in the rcmotest degree within
the provisions of that act There was
not the slightest objection to the filing
of this statement and this would have
been done if any of US had realized that
1t was required by any law or would
interest the nations busy law makers
They have it now, and it has not
pleased them from the day it was sub
mitted. In fact, the manner of its re-
ception was almost one Of pique
THE committee eXerted itself to the
utmost to prove that the league was or
ganized and developed in the interest
of munitions manufacturers. The
founders of the league foresaw this
cry the day the league was formed. and,
believing in preparedness, established
a positive rule against the acceptance
of contributing from such sources, and
have always adhered to it.
AS q final exposition of the pc
cuiar ,dea of fairness held by these
pleasant investigators, testimony
was taken of hostile witnesses with
out official notice to the officers of
the league, so that it had no repre-
sentative present to hear what new
outrage was claimed to have been
perpetrated"