The Washington herald., 1919-01-22
Former D. {. Commission
er Employed as Con-
gress Lobbyist.
BRANDSLEAGUE UNFAIR
Also Admits Fright and
Wrong" Chart Was Po-
Etical Document.

HGCEENdEy Ol Nne NdNlOudl security
League. confessed to the Congress
sional probing committee yesterday
that he had been a paid lobbyist.
He SHE'D somewhat at the term, but
on further questioning by Represen-
tative Browne, he capitulated and
said. II will accept the term, Lob
bytst'" Full details Of his employ
ment by men interested in legislation
pending before Congress were given
by the league official. who said he
had no regrets that he had accepted
the role.
According to his own statement.
West was employed in 1913 by about
sixty Washington men to work for
the retention OF the half and half
taxation plan for the District of Co
lumbia. These men contributed S25
each at stated intervals. and Vests
salary was 800 a week. He held this
job. he said. until Congress adjourn
ed in March, 1916.
Explains s'HnIf-and-Hnlr' PIan-
Chairman Johnson, who heads the
District Of Columbia Committee OF
the House. read into the record a
statement showing that the half
and-half'' plan provides that one-half
of the expenses of conducting the Dis
trict government is met from taxes
collected on property within the Dis
trict: the other half comes from the
United States Treasury. collected
from the States and Territories of the
Union.
A partial list Of the names OF the
men who employed him, which West
gave the committee. embraced wealthy
washingtonians who are heavily in
terested in property in the District
Abolition Of the "half-and-half' plan,
as has been voted for by the House
several times. would result in material
increases in their taxes.
West made the statement that he
always informed Senators and Repre-
Sentatives he called upon of his inter-
est in the legislation he was discuss
ing Representative Caraway sharply
reminded him that in his call on Mr..
Caraway he had omitted to mention
his pecuniary interest in the half
and-half'' matter.
Another damaging fact along the
line of Alton B. Parker's protest
that the league was being turned
into a Republican propaganda prop
ositiOn was brought out. Chairman
Johnson read from a letter to show
that West had attempted to interest
the late Senator Gallinger. of New
Hampshire, chairman Of the Sena-
torial campaign committee. in the
National Security League during the
recent campaign. West could not
remember this. but admitted he had
had frequent conferences with the
Senator.
This was the excerpt from the
Lot 70 IL
Chairman Johnson read:
1T seems to me that the scheme
that you forwarded is one of the
numerous schemes that are being
worked these days along various
lines. but OF course I do not want to
prejudge the matter. The chances
are about one hundred to one that
not only will they want moral CO.
operation but also financial coop
eration- and you know what that
means. However, there may be
something in it and know that
you will watch it closely"
League in Politics.
For the first time since the in
quify has been under way, the
league yesterday was put fatty on
record as having been engaged in
political activities during the 1918
Congressional campaign Refusing
10 follow the lead Of President Ly-
decker, former President Menken
and Chairman Orth, of the commit
tee on Congress. who persistently
clung to the claim that the league
vas not engaging in politics, west
boldly admitted the charge.
Henry Ford npa Or
oates selected for defeat. The execu-
i've committee Of the league. he said,
"dOpted a resolution directing that a
Ommittee OF fifty Michigan citizens
. formed for the purpose Of oppos-
lg Ford's candidacy for the United
tates Senate. Mr.. Caraway read this
1om a letter West wrote to Presi-
ent Lydecker on July 3, 1918:
Committee composed of citizens of
ichigan had that day been ap-
Dinted by league to inquire into
Ie Ford situation and determine
hat Is the most effective way TO
ork against him and what assist
nee league can give it's branches in
ichigan if desired"
West denied that this committee
} I'd been appointed, after the letter
y "a read into the record.
Then why did you write President
ydecker that it had been appointed? ?
Oh didn't want to deceive him, did
Ju?' asked Mr. Caraway.
No, I didn't want to deceive him -
est replied I don't know why I
rote it,
West was asked by Representative
=, rowne if the league hadn't sent
It a hurry up" call for money
u1ng the summer Of 191S-the be-
inning Of the Congressional cam
e,-llgni After -eyading the question
A ecr-e time, he finally was pinned
s<n = the admission that "a very
Trest effort" to get money was
says League Chart Unfair.
sir Browne read into the record
iaEE list of contributions of 800
ore made during the summer
I'd IA Of 1913. Nearly every one
these contributors was connect
2 T74rh the big business" interests
"a, New York City.
West denied that any of this
leney was used in the Congress
onal campaign, but admitted that
large portion Of Ridley Watts do
alton was expended for boiler
late" matter furnished to country
swspapers and that part of this
as devoted to the Congressional
rmpaign.
Further admissions by the witness
'rere that the leagues 'acid test"
1srt was unjust and unfair in that
iC was not accurately prepared and
rat the designations OF right and
wrong" used in the chart were not