New-York tribune., 1921-04-12
W ar Begun ON
'WeBoys'Clique
In Press Club
Committee Formed to Drive
Out of Business Those
Who Use Position TO
Promote Improper Ends
Court Hearing Thursday
Charge Wohltman Solicited
900 Membership Fee
From Charles w. Leavitt

The group Of working newspaper
men who have taken the affairs of the
New York Press Club into the Supreme
Court for the purpose of obtaining an
investigation and subsequent reorgani-
cation yesterday organized themselves
into the Press Club Progressive Com
m!ttee" at special meeting in the
club. Don Marquis was appointed
chairman of this committee. I'm
mediately after the meeting the fol-
lowing statement was issued:
"The committee in it's plans of reor-
ganzation proposes to establish
committee on ethics analogous to
that of the New York County and
other bar associations, for the purpose
of driving out of the newspaper bust
ness in New York City men who use
their position to promote improper
personal ends. The operations of such
a committee would not be confined to
members of the Press Club, but to any
body engaged in newspaper work in
this city whose activities are consid-
cred prejudicial to the newspaper pro-
fession as a whole. 1t is intended that
such committee shall pass on charges
and give effect to it's findings by fling
reports with newspaper Offices in this
and other large cities.
To Drive Out 1--WE Boys"
"The club also will set up machinery
for dealing in a severe manner with
persons not properly newspaper men
who, however, represent themselves to
be affiliated with the business and So
licit from wealthy men on such repre-
sentation. In this way it is hoped to
reduce to minimum the we boys
class which for years has worked in
this city, generally without being called
to account in any other way than by
occasional exposure in the newspapers
and whose activities have done much
to bring the entire body of honorable,
reputable newspaper men into disre-
pute.
I'm these objects the Press Club Pro-
gressive Committee will welcome the
support, both moral and active, of all
right thinking newspaper workers,
many of whom already have signified
their full sympathy with the cause pur-
sued thus far.
"Ihe progressive committee, after
full investigation, announces that the
following solicitation was made by J.
j.. Wohltman subsequent to the passage
of a resolution by the club forbidding
such SOLICITATION: On March 81. 1921,
Charles W. Leavitt, landscape en-
gineer, of 22O Broadway, was Informed
by j. j. Wohltman that he had been
elected to membership in the club and
was asked to pay the special associate
fee of 81 900.
"Mr. Leavitt's name was never pro
posed for membership either before
the board of trustees or before the
club membership. Mr.. Leavitt him
self did not apply fer membership.
Membership Declined
"On April l, 1921, he addressed the
following communication to Wohlt-
man:
"'April /. 1921. J. j. wohltman,
Esq, Register New York Press club
II Spruce Street, New York City:
Dear Sir-Your message in regard to
my election to membership in the New
York Press Club is received.
While am deeply sensible of the
honor conferred upon me by the club
in this election l must decline it,,
much to my regret.
"'May | ask you kindly to convey to
your board of admissions my appre-
citation and many thanks for your
courtesy? 1 am sir, very truly yours,
CHARLES w. IEAVITT.
"Mr. Wohltman is not the registrar
of the New York Press Club and there
is no such Office"
There will be formal hearing of
the action now in the courts, before
Justice Gavegan, Thursday afternoon,
when Charles NJ. Beattie. counsel for
the club, and II. Francis Dyruff, of
"a Pine Street, counsel for the pro-
gresslve committee, argue motions.