New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-05-07
il rllstees Admit
i Faults i'm Rule
| OF Press CllrI,
Some Things Une,hicaI, but
Need for Money 20 Clear
Of Debt Was Pressing,
! Defendants Counsel Saws
Members Sought Abroad
Court Reserves Decision ON
Petition forReferee: Asks
for Briefs i'm Two Weeks

Justice Tierney reserved decision
yesterday in the Supreme Court on the
application made by several members
~ the New York Press Club, for the
appointment of referee to investigate
The affairs of the organization. The
petitioners charged that there had
been gross irregularities and misap-
preparation OF funds of the club. Com
plant also was made against the
methods employed in obtaining asso-
ciate members aud subscriptions to o
World War history.
"a. Francis Dyruff, for the, petition
ing members. told Justice Tierney that
Ia connection with the solicitation Cor
associate memberships distinguished
men, including Earl Reading, formerly
British Ambassador at Washington and
yiceroy of India; Lord Northclifre,
newspaper publisher: Manuel Vargas.
financial agent of the Mexican govern
ments and others. had been approached
YoT 81 ,0oe associate memberships m the
Press Club. Justice Tierney remarked:
III that is true. 1t is not only startling,
but q source of sorrow to the court"
Among the defendants present was
= Percy Howard, president of the
Press Club.
Complains of Trustees Acts
In opening his argument Mr.. Dyruff
explained that the application was one
TO investigate the affairs of the club,
made necessary, he said, by the con-
duct OF the trustees in approving the
selling of associate MEMBERSHIPS to
prominent men for $1,000, with the
suggestion that such men would re-
ceive the favorable consideration of
the newspapers. The regular fee for
such membership, he pointed out, was
only $500.
Under contract with John j. wohlt-
man. who has a contract with the club
for the publication of the World War
History and for the solicitation of as
sociate members, Wohltman and his
agents receive so per cent of the pro-
ceeds from such subscriptions, while
the club receives only $500.
Eat least Sl15,o00 has been collected
Tor the history and we don't know
how much more" said Mr. Dyruf7. He
added that officers had signed che.ks
without authority, that one of the
trustees had shown his attitude toward
the demands Of the progressive element
by saying at BOARD meeting that he
would tell them to Ego to hell" and
that numerous designations from the
club were caused by the action of the
majority of the present board. Mr..
Dyruff insisted the members had q
right to relic. through an inspection of
the records.
{ Charles M. Beattie appeared for the
Press Club and the defendant trustees,
ether than the three who side with the
protestants. An incident that caused
mirth in connection with the presence
Of Mr.. Beattie was that several times
Justice Tierney addressed him as Mr..
Hennessy. John A. Hennessy is trus-
tee, being one of the defendants, who,
however, was not in court. Mr.. Beattie
gaid there were no charges of misap-
preparation in the court papers. Mr..
Dyruff, correcting the attorney for the
defendants. said, "The papers are full
of them." Mr.. Beattie admitted that