Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-03-16
(lTY LEAGUE ElD SAYS PROBE |NAs THIRD DEGREE
Edsnt Lydecker Issues Element st, Criticizing :.
 Committee

Committee
 Work, March e.-Declaring
 s. congressional investigation
 K pvyational Security League was
 ,ysS sI in error, if not in malice,' ,
 .,using the special committee
 house of, representatives,
 M Congressman Johnson, of
 v, which conducted the in
 5 .tion. with unusual capacity
 sirness" and the use of third
 me methods, Col. Charles E. Ly-
 president of the league, made
 ',.hatic statement today regard
 cOmmittee's report. Col. Ly-
 eharacterizes the investiga-
 < prosecution, not an in-
 and states that "the National
 r League expects to continue
 h,siness, confident of the con
 s,pport of the intelligent and
 ,,ess and of all honest citizens"
 Iydecker's statement reads in
 country is to be oongratu-
 mon the final ending of this
 table congressional feat. For |To months, this committee of
 pe of representatives, at great
 ! of time-which could better
 been devoted to the nations
 bg legislative problems-and of
 -the committee operated un-
 appropriation of $25,0O0-has
 Dnducting a so-called 'inves- n of tEje National Security
 It has in reality been a con- ambition of political pique and
 hoMing llumptiousness. The
 proceeding has been so un- ary, it can best be character hot as an inquiry, but as a tmion. The questioners-by |
 by insinuation, by absolutely hg the great work which the
 has done and has planned for sture, and by pressing every | point that might seem to place hague at a disadvantage-dis-
 unusual capacity for unfair Their entire attitude was that | alOus prosecutors in the ad- tation of the third degree, l eficial record of the 'investi- i
 should be read by every cit l Of the United States. It will | le the finest vindication possi- the soundness of the National l lty Leagues idea in taking up adgel for the people in the en- [ to improve the standard of ! representation in congress. "HOuse Misled." ' officers of the league have | lted since the opening hearing Vhe committees report would be i everest possible arraignment of |eague and it's supporters. We probably prepare a detailed an- as soon as we receive a copy . report. le Investigation was conceived TOT, if not in malice. The rep 'atlve,,' who introduced the res 2 in the house which resulted E lnvestigation,' voted against Rclaration of war and against E the notorious McLemore res a The house was misled into ms false and fantastical rav- serlously. As a matter of fact, nVestigation' should have occu- one half day, instead of nearly lonths of the Valuable time of uemDerS of the committee, in under the pretense of taking ,oay, they indulged in long and , humorous and pathetic, argu- with officers and employees of seasue, in New York, Chicago 'asnlngton. It was charged that sague had spent $1y2OO,00O in ''vltles last fall to educate the . 'o the assurance of the cleo ' new congress of the highest wand ability. It took exactly undred and twenty seconds to complete statement of the ex- ! ures of the leagues commits congress- which totaled $5, This $1j20O,0OO myth, the mas since learned, was based punished estimate of the pos ., ost Of an elaborate patriotic ,,onal campaign in the heat of ai' which was not carried out, s. 7 supple reson that the money .' :. ralsed. The entire expendi- 1. ,a 'le league since its organiza- l December, 1914, in all it's Work for preparedness, it's "u-the-War activities, and it's E., snerlcanization propai,andat 'lag ~. over four years, have to- only $52l,67Sj10. After these were presented to the com 'A'o a' the opening sessions, the '';e newspapers of the country ,.a isaored the Investigation or ,su ~ .aeir sympathy to the lea or ;a, the unnecessary annoyance 'A !. was being subjected.
 Not In Politics.
 Y. ssommittee sl displayed a very V v,o, Tesire to convict the league sot .t'atlon :l of the corrupt prac- ot m not having filed a state ,itt N the expenditures of it's ;tee : on congress- To tell the ,h never occurred to any off s,,; ae league that it's absolute ish isan and non-political, in any M +iaa interpretation of the word, f sS d. last fall came in the re- .t uegree within the provisions X es. act. There was not the Sol Nhioat;o k.,, .,.. :.