The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-04
MENKEN LEAGUE IS
STYLED AS A TOOL


struttion which follow the war. The
night made by the league upon the
loyalty of men Of the highest patriotism
was so glaringly unjust and 30 patiently
false that IL failed in. Its purpose, but
the failure was due to an error OF judg-
ment on the part Of the league and not
because of tho lack of vicious purpose"
The committee stated that a great
majority Of the league members who
contributed small amounts toward its
expenses little suspected that their con-
tributions would be used to -"thwart and
defeat the very principles Of government
for which. they. stood"
The idea OF forming the league. tho
report raid, was conceived ny 8. Stan
wood Menken. ian attorney representing
sugar. steel and other large interests"
while he was in London. Other repre-
sentatives Of like interests took UP tho
idea, the report added. and became the
most active in its organisation.
"Coincldent with the organization OF
the league tho thought OF financing II
commenced" It continued. "and Of coup
ling 1t with names OF persons In which
the people would have confidence.
Joseph II. Choate OF New York was
made honorary president and upon his
death Eiihu Root was selected TO take
his place. Alton b. Parker was selected
as honorary vice-president.
These two gentlemen were selected
for several reasons. One was to give
the league tho appearance OF being nom
partisan in politics, Mr.. Root being q
Republican and Judge Parker q Demo-
crat. No doubt another reason was
that the league desired tine Use Of their
ma mes for the purpose OF conjurlng up
| money to carry on Its contemplated ac-
tivities."
Large Contributions Cited.
The committee laid stress on the fact
that large contributions had been re-
ceived by the organization from the Car
neeie interests, JOHN D. Rockefeller. j.
Plerpont Morgan and others Having
large interests here and abroad"
The principal officers, CT the league
| were described by the committee as a
lawyer with a private clientele. a pro-
fess:onal lobbyist. a eisal importer d.
| rectly interested In the price OF binder
Irvine and young newspaper man with
out Job
Upon entering the leagues Offices in
New York one would see only Mr.. West,
! the lobbyist; Mr.. O-th, the s!sal I'M
porter. and Mr.. Harvey, an everyday
| newspaper man." said the report. But
II the curtains were only pulled back the
hand OF Rockefeller, OF Vanderbilt OF
| Morgan of Remington, OF Du Pont and
OF Guggenheim would be seen, suggest
ing steel. oil. moneyba gs, Russian bonds,
rifles. powder and railroads"
The "acid test chart distributed by
| the league during the last Congressional
campaign showing how members of Con-
gres, voted on eight selected measures
was termed unfair. misleading and I'M
tttet nv hA rh fnt, 10 al Ia n
It had been drawn UP by a man utterly
unqualified for such work"
THE eight measures which were used
| in the chart as vital tests were In many
| instances measures which reflected party
| politics rather than national issues of
patriotic import" the committee stated.
| six of the eight measures antedated
our entrance into the war. IN some in
| stances more than a year, but little con-
| Germ. II any. was given to the records
Of congressman made after the United
States entered the war"
The committee stated there was no
doubt that the league had entered
politics during the last campaign. even
though every one Of its officers had
| sworn to the contrary while testifying.
THE ofncials qualified their state
| ments, however" the report said, by
saying they were not in partisan poll.
tics. III their real and Interior mo-
| tives had been ascertained. they were
not in partisan politics in the common
| acceptance OF the word. As a matter
OF fact the league cared nothing for a
| candidates political affiliation.
what chiefly concerned tine league
was how the candidates attitude would
| affect certain interests that would be
/ subjects of legislation by Congress dur
! ing the reconstruction period. They
sought either to elect or defeat candi-
dates from the Atlantic TO the Pacific
The committee report said that when
the league began its campaign activities
! fund separate from the general fund
! was collected for that particular purpose
, lected in New York city.
Accused of Great Injustice.
Summing up its case aga inst the
league. the committe stated there was
| no doubt that II had done the creates,
injustice TO loyal, patriotic rnen who had
! given the nation the benefit OF command
ing ability. unQuestloned courage and
unalloyed patriotism. This injustice
partisan ends and undertaking 10 hide
their sslf-interest beneath the cloak OF
public eervice and national good.
THE National Security League and
like orgsnizations in their political activ-
ties constitute serious menace TO rep
ressntative government the report con-
tinued. Ordinarily their real purpose
IL concealed and their appeal Is made 10
the public on some principle In harmony
with dominhnt sentiment. Usually, as
in this instance. they have access to al
most unlimited wealth and borrow re-
spectab!l!ty by the use In honorary posi-
tons OF the names OF men OF national
prominence. II their real purpose were
apparent the danger would be relieved.
Men in public life are given by them
TO understand that they must be subser-
Went TO the demands of such institu-
lions. and upon their failure to do SC
they will be held up to public scorn and
humiliation by false accusations. In
such circumstances the best intentioned
| candidate for office realizes he must
| be either subservient to the demands
of these camoufiaged organizations or be
put on the defensive by false charges
This condition is not at all fanciful since
SIS sf4eful effects have been den..s,s
strated fully by the activities OF the
! National Security League"
MALICE IN SECURITY INQUIRY