The Tomahawk., 1919-04-03
Congressional Inquiry Shows Or
ganization Was Outlined in
Foreign Country.
INTERESTS BEH|NDPLAN
Propaganda Campaign Against Pro-
qressives in u. S. Printed in Thou
sands OF Newspapers-Financ
BY Rockefeller, Guggenheim,
Dupont and Others.

Washington, D. C.-The National
Security league, founded with the an
nounced purpose of securing 100 per
cent Americanism," was first planned
in foreign country, according to
findings of a congressional con- mittee
which has been investigating this or
ganization.
The National Security league, dur
Ing the last campaign, essayed to pass
| upon the "Americanism" of candi-
dates for congress- and other Offices.
1t sent out boiler plate" and other
publicity to between 100 and 1900
newspapers throughout the country. 1t
was notable that the candidates op-
posed by the National Security league
were nearly all men who had been
prominent in the progressive politics
of the country.
The reason for this is shown in the
congressional investigation. The
league was supported by the big finan-
cial interests who were interested in
throttling liberal thought. Among the
contributors were the following:
The Carnegie corporation, John D.
Rockefeller, ]. p. Morgan, the Guggen-
helm brothers, T. Coleman Dupont
(multi-millionaire munitions manufac-
turer), Charles Deering of the Inter-
national Harvester Company, Henry
c. Frick of the United States Steel
corporation; George w. Perkins, w.
H. Vanderbilt. F. w. Vanderbilt, B.
M. Baruch and others. The individual
contributions OF these men ran as
high as $15o,0O0.
Origin interesting.
The story of how the National Se-
curity league came to be founded, as
revealed by the congressional inyesti-
cation, is interesting. It first originat-
ed in the mind of Stanwood Menken,
q corporation lawyer, during a visit he
made to London and the British par
lament in August, 1914, long before
the United States was engaged in the
war.
The first man Mr. Menken consult.
ed regarding the organization of the
league was Frederic c. Coudert, cor
poration attorney representing the
British ambassador and the British,
French, Russian and Italian govern
ments. This, again, was long before
the United States became involved in
| war. 1t was long before Germany had
begun to interfere with United States
| commerce. The munition makers, at
this period, were the only ones that
wanted the United States to 60 to
war, because at this time no reason
for our entering the world conflict
| existed.
AS the result of the conferences of
Mr. Menken, Mr.. Coudert, and others,
the league was organized, with
Charles d. Orth, a member of the
London and New York firm which vir-
tually controls the sisal market, as
| manager. The so-called "sisal trust
Northwestern farmers will remember,
is responsible for their paying about
four times the former price for their
binder twine.
Began To Collect.
Steps were at once taken to solicit
funds from munition makers, packers.
| copper barons and all other interests
which might be expected to profit
from war conditions.
The political prosecutions, false
charges of sedition, Indictments to
mob violence and other activities
against leaders of progressive thought
| in America, that continued during the
| war, can largely be traced to the
teachings of the National Security
league.
The league instituted a loyalty
QUESTIONABLE" and patriotic" fnqui-
sition called 'the leagues acid test
for the purpose of bounding out OF
Office and public life all liberals, pro-
gressives and radicals.
Members of congress were sum-
moned before the league inquisftors,
and were asked, not about their 10y
atty but whether they had made GER
tain statements derogatory of J. Pier
pont Morgan. Admitting that he had
made such a statement, one congress-
man was Immediately branded as dis
loyal.
The league has now been thorough
l ~ 3nvoofivafod nv a committee OF