Evening journal., 1918-05-04
DISCUSSES CITY
CLUB CONTROVERSY
John W. Huxley, Jr., Ex-
plains Attitude Of Mem
bers He Represents
WERE WILLING TO
GIVE UP QUARTERS

The following letter from John W
Huxley. Jr.. counsel for some mem
bers Of the City Club, win explain
Itself:
To The Editor OF THE EVENING JOUR
NAL.
sir Ldesirc to call your attention "a
some mis-siatcments contained in tn,
article entitled "Railfy Lease Of Clty
Club Rooms. as published In your
paper Wednesday evening May 2nd, anc
also TO correct a wrong impression con.
veyed TO the public by said article, In
he first place your article reads
"A number OF those in the oppo-
sition took the standpoint that the
City Club was entitled 10 continue
in is present location; that the
club was a convenience and COM
fort which these members thought
should be continued, and which
they did not wish to give up. The
legality Of the manner Of disposing
Of the club property and rooms, and
the question OF whether the club
should give up its personal conven-
lence without adequate compensa-
tlon, were points raised by the op-
position. The club had a flve-year
lease on the roomss
"The majority felt that az the
space occupied by the City Club
was needed by the government for
work directly connected with the
carrying on Of the war, II was not
time TO give consideration 10 red
tape or to private pleasure, but to
let the space be taken over for gov
ernment work Immediately"
This Is an absolute mis-statement Of
The position taken by the opposition"
IS you style the members whom repre-
sent, and is a slur on their loyalty and
patriotism. which we will resent At
90 time have they felt that the club
vas "entitled TO continue in its present
ocation."
At the meeting Of February IS, 1913,
nc question was raised as 10 the neces-
lity OF action on the question on that
vening. and a motion was made TO con-
inue The meeting for one week. with
. view Of obtaining other quarters.
rhis motion, though duly seconded, was
declared out Of order by Mr.. Coyne
president OF the club, who is also a vice
president and director OF the dupont
company.
At that meeting, Mr.. Coyne was ask
ID what 0nd Of lease the club had on
ts quarters, and what It's terms and
conditions were. He stated that the club
lad no lease as did also Mr. Frank
rurner. comptroller OF the dupont Com
jany, who further stated that the club
Mas ia IT'S quarters under a verbal
agreement to pay $1,000 per anuum. Mr..
Ernest Taite. manager Of the Hotel du-
Pont. from which corporation the club
'ented its quarters. and who, I under
ltand, had a copy Of the lease, sat in
Die room during the entire meeting and
I'D not correct this mis-staiement.
No action was taken by the active
Members Of the club in regard 30 the
ease, as we were informed that we had
lone. Nevertheless, the trustees. who
ire either dupont Company officials, di-
'ectors or stockholders. took II upon
themselves 10 turn over the quarters
md equipment to the dupont Com
pany, although notified not to do so.
Even then, the opposition did not
EEL that The club should remain in its
quarters, but did feel, after we learn
I'd the club had a lease, with practically
wo years TO run, that possibly we
lhould receive more than $4,000 from
ne dupont Company for our entire
squlpmen. and lease. That this ls true
= shown by the following quotation
rom my personal letter 90 afr. Pierre
5. dupont president Of the + l. dupont
ie Nemours & Company. under date of
February 10. 1918. four days after the
meeting After fully lnformng Mr. du
Pont Of what transpired at said meeting. /
ny letter reads as follows
while I feel sure that not a sin
gle member Of the club whom ] rep
resent, as well as myself, wish in
any way 10 tie up or delay your
company In performing this work
Tor the government, yet we do feel
that we have some rights in the
matter, and that possibly on a busl-
ness proposition, the equipment and
lease, which your company at
tempted to acquire through such
proceedings are worth more than
flfteen thousand dollars. We do not
desNe the corporation Of the City
Club dissolved and while perfectly
willing TO relinquish our quarters,
we can not believe that the dupont
Powder Company desires to get the
name Of obtaining equopment and
leases In the manner above stated
especially from the members Of A
social club the up-building OF which
was dlfilcult."
My personal appeal TO Mr.. dupont
Tor an adjustment OF the matter and a
continuation Of the club in other quar-
iers, was referred by him 10 Mr.. William
.oyne for adjustment. Mr.. Covne in
formed me by letter. under date Of
March 4, that he hoped 10 be able TO