The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-06
BLED FOR MARITIME LEAGUE.
fUINENT MEN HELP blue PEN
CILLERSLIVE WITHOUTWORK.

he aid or support Of the American Mari
time League whose headquarters we're
10 dingy Office on the third floor Of the
Boreel Building, at ll5 Broadway. This
will be sad news for the citizens Of New
York and Philadelphia who put up s25
each for a life membership II IL true
that they still have their life membership,
which cannot be taken from them until
death intervenes.
The league was formed by n. X. Pom
merry. Kent Holmes and s. Elliott Curtis,
all Of whom, It is said, we're once members
Of the Blue Pencil Club in Spruce street,
which the police put out Of business, al
though Pommery's name might pass as a
colorado imitation OF the name Of II. X.
Pomroy, president OF the Stock Exchange.
The Blue Pencil Club had an ingenious
scheme for separating Wall Street firms
from their money. It was a ma gazine in
which bankers and brokers we're induced
to advertise upon the plea that it was run
by active newspaper men, whose favor it
was well for the bankers and brokers to
have
The 'eague was a much simpler scheme,
involving no labor except the writing OF
letters upon stationery containing an i'm
posing array of names. The aVowed object
Of the organization was to start an agita-
ton 20 secure from Congress action toward
the rehabilitation Of the American Merchant
Marine. and It was on this basis that the
lie memberships were peddled.
According to the lettsrneads ex-senator
John Nj. Ihurstou OF Nebraska was the
president, and the fCllowing formed the
Committee on membership Cornelius y.
Bliss, james Speyer, Jacob Gould Schur-
man, Gen. Benjamin +. Tracy, August
Belmont George ". Stevens and Mr.
Thulston 1t was also said that President
IiooseN cit and several Cabinet officers
were honorary members. For its advisory
board the league used the names Of Mayor
Mcclellan, Elihu Root, Paul Morton, William
II. Moody, Secretary TAFT, Warner Miller,
Cen Tracy, August Belmont, Thomas
Dolan Of Philadelphia, Timothy l.. Wood
run. William 4. Harper and Fear Admiral
Walker. Just how many life Memberships
have been sold on the strength of this dis
play Of names could not be learned yester-
cay. but apparently me league had done
thriving business for while. Then some
Of those who had given up their cash be-
came suspicious and the end OF the graft
came.
Efforts to find Pommary or his associates
yesterday werp futile. The Office in which
thcy-or, at least pommery- had desk
room is occupied by Ieauder ldchardson's
paper. the New York I7.ury'. The young
man who was in charge there said that
.pommery hadn't been around for siv weeks.
Mayor McClellan's acting secretary, Mr..
Hassett said yesterday that the use Of the
Mayors name was unauthorized. The
Mayor began to receive letters regarding the
league about a year ago and Mr.. Hassett
set out 10 discover what the concern was
up to, but he never could find anybody in
the Office but a girl typewriter.
Mr. Hassett finally turned the matter oven
10 the police nut no arrests werr made.
Ex-Lieut-Gov. Woodruff said he first
heard from the league thirteen months
ago when he received letter asking him
ifhe was in favor Of the upbuilding Of the
merchant marine. Il answered and said
that was continued Mr.. Woodruff. THE
name Of Secretary Moody on the letter.
head misled me. | don't know the men
lack Of the league and / never saw any
Of them"
L was deceived when lent my name to
this matter" said Cornelius n Bliss. Il
was led TO believe in the beginning that il
was another league which had its inception
In naval circles and which had a legitimate
and patriotic task to perform. l recently
communicated with Mr.. Speyer and Mr..
Seligman, who we're likewise drawn into it,
and we decided to act at once ! wrote 70
the headquarters at ll5 Broadway, but
do not remember having received a reply.
] told them to strike my name from all their
literature"
Mr.. Kopf, secretary to Mr.. Speyer, said:
we have forbidden them TO use our name,
and II they persist in doing so we will prose-
cute them. We don't know who the men
are, and II was because Of the name of Mr..
Bliss that we believed that the league
was all right. Now we think differently,
and we want them to stop trading on our
name"
Some prominent citizens Of Philadelphia
were let into the league for 325 a piece
Thus far they have received nothing for
their money except typewriter letters
acknowledging the receipt Of the money
and informing them that brief but com
prehensive reports Of our work and prog
iess will shortly begin 10 reach you
Thomas Dolan, president OF the United
Gas Improvement Company. whose name
appears on the circulars as one Of the VICE
presidents and a member OF the advisory
board, says that the uso Of his name was
Unauthorized. Among the others who dug
UP the price Of a life membership are John
II Converse, president OF the Baldwin To-
connective Works, William Bunham,
Samuel T Bodine, first vice-president Of
the United Gas Impro vement Company,
and benjamin Citizens, president OF the
Corn Exchange National Bank.
When the league was first started IL had
en ofice in the Park Row Building. As il
had no bank account at the beginning sew
eral Of the checks sent in for life member
chips we're cashed, il il said in Park row
saloon One man who investigated the
scheme says that the league h d agents
cut 10 whom a commission Of so per cent.
was paid for subscriptions.
Ex-senator Thurston was at the Repub-
lican Club last niRht still inclined 20 stand
by the 'eague. He said:
Upon request in writing Of a number Of
prominent men who had consented 20 be-
come members Of league for the rehabil-
tation Of the American merchant marine
] consented, some three months ago, , act
rs the president Of the organization
SO far the work has been mainly devoted
n securing a membership Of the Prominent
men Of the country in order that a formal
organization could be perfected and plans
made 70 carry on the important work Of
srousing public sentiment and secur ing
necessary legislation.
A meeting Of all the members has now
tesn called TO meet at u G Waldorf Astoria
IN New York on Friday, April IL, 10 perfect
formal organization and 20 enter upon
q vigorous camraign. / am sure that at
tst meeting all the people who have Joined
VII be assured that what has so far been
cone by the league has been done in good
isith, and expect the league viii lie in a
rositonto carry on good fight for Ameri-
Gan shipping In which have Rad a great
interest for many years
INSANE Lawyers DEFENCE.