The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-16
PRESS CLUB HAS TWO
INDICTED FOR FRAUD
Pseudo Agents Got Money From
Wealthy Men as Member
ship Fee.
WARRANTS ARE ISSUED
Police Seek ~. B. AuchinclOss,"
Who Induced Standard Oil
Man to Give Check.
WARRANTS ARE ISSUED

The Sew York Press Club announced
,e.,erdav that Its name Ia being used i'm
,,o,erly ny agents seeking money for the
,,ph Itself or for the Vaudeville Comedy
club. with which 1t recently became ,af-
nlI8tel.
Men representing themselves as hired
~ the Press Club have obtained money
from lawyers. Standard OIL men and
o,bers 'or associate membership In the
orraniz,t.on Such money never reached
Tho club and As "a result Of a Grand Jury
Interrogation two indictments were handed
Aovn last week and detectives with war
PANTS are searching the city for the men.
Complaints have reached the Press Club
officials ana also THE SUN CONGO rning the
methods Of agents who under contract
slth the Vaudeville Comedy Club of l07
IVES, Forty-fourth street have been trying
10 induce men to become associate men,
hers o. that organization. The solicitors.
MS said. have explained not only that
the Press club Is affiliated with the
Comedy club but have sought 10 impress
on the prospective members that certain
advantages would accrue TO them by hav-
Ig such a connection with the Press Club.
May sever Relations.
Reports Of the activities OF the agents
81 the comedy Club--there were Ave OF
N,m--reached Edward Percy Howard.
chairman OF the board OF trustees Of the
Press Club. a few days ago. He had an
interview OF Francis Morey, secretary OF
the Comedy Club. and by order of the
trustees Mr. Howard wrote TO the Comedy
ClUo on saturday asking II to cease en-
iirely us campaign Cor associate members
The Press Club has threatened to sever
~ relations with the uptown organisation.
Agents Of the Comedy Club, for whom
list Of prominent men. including lawyers
ard theatrical men. was compiled. APP
preached ogden Mills Reid. editor Of the
New York Tribune. A theatrical man
sger who was asked to give money re-
ported the affair to THE Sun.
The Vaudeville Comedy Club Is com
posed ~ vaudeville performers. Among
,,s onis IS are Gene Hughes. president ;
Al Jolson first vice presldent; George lie
Mare. second vice-presldent. and Thomas
J Gray. third vice-pres!dent Its board
.. con rol includes Felix Adler. T. F. Al
pee, James NJ Brennan. Ralph Edwards.
n E Manwaring and Henry Vogei
The leading members Of the club have
been carrying on vigorous campaign to
strengthen their organization. They felt
!. would be of advantage to themselves
20 have downtown clubhouse such as
he Press club affords and the members
Of the Press Club found advantages In
being abe to use the clubhouse uptown.
The officers OF the Vaudeville Comedy
Club are planning to move to a larger
building and eventually to build a club
mouse with this object In view they
hired a group OF solicitors TO get asso-
riate members on percentage basis
Those agents have been asking 500 for
four years OF associate membership. The
yearly dues are s25 and the initiation
.ee Is SIS. The Initiation Zee, however
waived when n prospective member
paws 500 cash. The agent gets com
MISSION OF 20 per cent The remainder
o, the money, II Ia explained. goes into
what Is called the building fund"
Tee Name Of Press CIuh.