Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-11
SHEARER TO FACE
SENATE GR|LL|NG
Upper House Orders Naval
Committee to Probe His.
Work at Geneva.
CONTINUED From First Page.)

Inc interest OF the cnurcneS II the
Shearer investigation was emphasized
| in a statement made public today by
the Federal Council of Churches.
President Hoover's spirited call for
an official inquiry into the financial
connection between big Navy propa-
ganda and private shlpbuilding COM
panies has a vital bearing on the whole
| movement for international good will.
and in particular upon the peace pro-
gram OF the churches" the statement
said.
I'm addition to the crucial issue of
public morality, the churches have
special interest in the inquiry because
| not q little of Mr.. Shearer'S propaganda
for extravagant naval preparedness took
the form of an effort to discredit the
program of the Federal Council of
Churches and other church bodies"
Peace Organization Ready.
The National Council for Prevention
of War, whose headquarters here is the
fountain-head of pacifists' publicity
against a bigger Navy and other prof.
ects propagandized by w. B. Shearer, is
just as willing as Mr.. Shearer appears
to be to submit TO congressional inVesti-
cation.
This attitude was made public today
at the national Offices of the council, at
Seventeenth and F streets, in response
| to references by inquirers TO the request
of Richard Washburn Child that activ-
tiles of pacifist organizations also come
under scrutiny during the proposed
Shearer inquiry.
| While Mr.. Child did not mention the
National Council by name in letter
sent to Senator Borah of Idaho yester-
day, it was apparent that officials of the
council believe the attack was aimed at
their organization.
Frederick j. Libby, executive secretary
of the National Council, who just re-
turned to the Capital today, said that
his organization would open its books
to a congressional committee provided
the American Legion and the d. A. r.,
| which he described as the leading or
CARNATIONS in the two recent campaigns
for naval increases" would do the same.
THE investigation of William B.
Shearer's present and past connections
now should be carried through to a con-
clusion without raising other issues"
said Mr. Libby.
II see by the morning paper that
big Navy advocates are trying to divert
attention from the scandal raised ny
| the connection now revealed between
| William B. Shearer and the Ship-build-
ing interests by raising again the cry
that the peace organizations should be
investigated. The trick is too obvious
"Peace Drives In Open"
1.-THE peace organizations have been
| conducting their campaign against In
| ordinate increases in the Navy openly
when, on three occasions, It has
been proposed that the National Coun-
| Gil for Prevention of War be investi-
gated, we have responded that we we're
ready to cooperate fully in an impair
| tial investigation that would include
| tkaA .fn0N fhAk IL inv
| for and against these increases"
| Libbys organization was in commune
cation with Shearer on one occasion in
the Winter of 1928, shortly after the
| 1-ship bill was sent to Congress by
| Secretary of the Navy Wilbur. The
National Council for the Prevention of
War circularized against the bill ex-
tensively and Shearer acknowledged the
| receipt of a form letter which Libby
| had sent out by sending him a copy
| of a pamphlet he had prepared called
The Cloak of Benedict Arnold"
! On the inside of the cover Shearer
| had written in longhand as follows:
Dear Sir: have read with much
| interest your letter of January 81. and
suggest you read my contribution for
peace. Our goal is the same, but by
different roads.
VERY truly yours.
| D.
Shearer had noted, See page Al"
and on that page of his pamphlet he
| had UNDERSIGNED for Libby'S convenience
| reference 10 the National Council for
| Prevention of War and his own descrip-
ton of the organization as zone of these
| idealistic and un-American bodies that
advocate complete surrender of our ma
tional and commercial independence.
Did Not Acknowledge Letter.
| Libby did not acknowledge the letter:
OF his own organization, Libby assert
| ed that every dollar received comes
| from American contributors. There
! is no foreign influence being brought
| to bear upon our policies, which are
economically determined by the or
] ganization," he declared. Il believe
the same to be true of the other peace
| organizations. We advocate reduction
! of ornaments by international agree
ment, q sane and reasonable policy
We have never sought the disarmament
| of America alone"
| The stream of publicity matter issuing
| from the councils headquarters is as
prolific as that sent out by Mr.. Shearer
| from New York, although the exact
antitheSis in nature. Mr.. Libby, chief
spokesman for the council, has oeen
| lust as vigorous in his denunciatlon OF
| cruiser bills and battleShipS as Mr..
Shearer has been enthusiastic in their
support. Mr.. Libbey has canpaigned
| actively in behalf of American adher-
ence to the World Court, while Mr..
Shearer has denounced the Court and
the League of Nations by radio, letter
and statements to the press.
Mr.. Libby has sent out stereotypeo
resolutions. ready for adoption by or
carnations opposed to nearly every
thing Mr.. Shearer says he stands FOR,
| lust as MIR. Shearer has sent out reso-
| buttons opposing the ideals of the coun-
Gil.
Urges Sweeping Inquiry.
In his letter to Senator Borah Mr..
"The investigation of the Shearer
case ought to be undertaken by the
foreign relations committee. OF Whicn
you are chairman. 1t should De sweep
shipbuilding companies and their &C
| tiyities. which have shocked the Presi-
| dent but should extend also to lobbies
| carried on by the employees of church
| ORGANIZATIONS and of fanatic pacifistS'
machines which do not make plain the
sources of their funds, or to prove their
| freedom from relationship. with radical
! alien internationals, or which foreign
inspired propaganda intended to keep
| the United states in various states OF
/ coma in its various relations and de-
! lenses. AS between a lobby in favor of
shipbuilding companies and one car
ried on indirectly by some foreign power
AGAINST the upbuilding of our merchant
marine I see no moral difference, and
| condemn each"
| An idea of the scope Of the activities
| of the national council is obtained best
| from a printed sheet of suggestions
| for ueace activity in Fail and Winter
| of 1929" now being distributed by the