The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-10-27
jgILLIARD BALKS AT
TAFT LEAGUE PLEA
Refuses to Contribute Money
to Aid Ratification of
the Treaty.
SEES INTERNATIoNALIsM
BeYly to Appeal for Funds Is
Flat Declination, Based on
Study of Issue.
SEES INTERNATIONALISM

rrsdsric A. Jullliard, who received by
N. death of his uncle. A. D. Juiliisrd'
UNA months ago, a large estate, has re-
r.,a to contribute TO the League to En-
80. Peace because, as he wrote to Will
49,, Howard Taft and A. Lawrence Low
An he has no sympathy whatever with
-. sefor,s of that organization to collect
..orsv 10 sway public opinion in demand
-, an unqualified ratification of the
peace treaty.
Afr billiards reply TO an invitation
,.- substantial contribution" an APP
A., which was signed by Herbert s.
kouston. George w. wickersham. Vance
fccornck, Cleveland H. Dodge and
n.car s. Straus, all prominent in the ac-
,lrlt,es of the League to Enforce Peace,
I, straight out declination grounded on
nj. study of the treaty and the League
o,Notions pact, and on his conviction that
,ha peace treaty should not be ratined
r,tbout n sufficient number OF reserva-
,;ons 10 protect the United States against
"a vague internationalism which would
rsnace the standing and integrity OF our
,,sti,utious." On the other hand, he
, ais Messrs. Taft and Lowell. president
and chairman, respectively. OF the organ
lzation which has been the principal or
ranized propagandist of the unqualihed
ratification idea, that II shall gladly con-
tribute funds to help in the better under
Standing of the wisdom OF the reserva-
lions Urged by the Senate Foreign Rela-
tons Committee.
Evcr Half Million Subscribed.
When Herbert s. Houston. treasurer
., the League to Enforce Peace, was
.qked last night to comment on the JUL
frd letter and also to reveal what the
Fntributions to the league had amounted
he said
about Mr.. billiards letter. So far as
the finances of the league are concerned.
can say this frankly and cheerfully !:
In the four years of the leagues activity
10000 subscribers have contributed about
$4,000. Stories repeated by enemies
Of the league, to the effect that various
money seeking campaigns realized a
million dollars or more, are nonsense.
Our whole receipts in the four years
have been no more than $4,000. Our
books have been audited regularly by
public accountants.
IF Senator Borah of Idaho still de-
sires to take advantage of my invitation
to give him all of the figures of our con-
trbutons, providing he will insert them
IN the Congres sionaI Record, the privi-
lege remains his.
THE thing that would particularly
like the public to know IN connection
with the whole affair. Is that in sending
out invitations to contributors we had a
double purpose, first, to disseminate real
Information about the treaty and the
League Of Nations, and, second. to get
the money for the purposes the league
desired. This appeal has been continu-
ous-has not been confined to any spe-
cial drive at all-so that the date of
October g. in the letter referred to. has
no special significance"
George w. Wickersham, almost as
prominent IN the League to Enforce
Peace as William Howard Taft himself.
entirely corroborated Mr.. Houston's
statement when he was asked about the
matter last night.
The former Attorney General of the
United States said: ANY critic of the
league, who bases his criticism on the
IDEAS Of Senator Borah should be told
that the league has nothing to conceal
financially or otherwise"
An especially strong appeal to the
public generally was made last June In
the form OF circular letters and page
advertisements in the newspapers. 1t
was stated at the time that the Taft
organization was trying to collect at
least 100000 ito save the treaty"
The appeal spurned by Mr.. Juilliard in
dicates to persons who have followed
the leagues activities more or less in
terestedly that the money raised last
summer has been spent or that many
prosperous persons approached at that
tine failed to come across"
The new appeal recalls, also, the
charge made by George Wharton Pep
per OF Philadelphia, last June, that the
League 10 Enforce Peace was financed
by group of International bankers.
This charge was denied by Treasurer
Houston, who stated that the organiza-
ton had been backed generally by per-
sons who believe in the League of Ma
Tons, and that the average contribu-
lion had been considerably under 500.
Heavy Contributions Reported.
Mr. billiards letters to Messrs. Taft
ana Lowell was as follows:
To-day l received a Geographic APP
peal, dated October 9, 1919. asking me
Tor substantial contribution to secure
an expression of public opinion that
VIII compel ratification Of the peace
treaty without reservations that would
require resubmission TO the Paris Con-
ference or a separate treaty with Ger
many
The appeal to me bears the sigma
tures OF Messrs. Herbert S. Houston
treasurer; George w. Wickersham
vance Mccormick. Cleveland H. Dodge
ana oscar S. Straus. My reply is that
am not at all in sympathy with the
published efforts of your organization
mp TO date to sway public opinion and
the judgment OF United States Senators
IN accordance with the published state
uehts and reiterated arguments made
oy your organization and many of your
members.
AS the light of day, through oper
discussion. is thrown upon the peace
treaty which Is bound I'D with the
league OF Nations, II becomes more and
more evident that certain Fundamental
principles Of the constitutional Govern
heht OF the United States of America
as wen as several national policies which
are IN practice fundamental, are i'm
properly safeguarded and are menacet
oy The proposed treaty and league.
imperiIs Independence.
You have openly asked for a con,
tlDutlOn to further What consular q