New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-09-10
Howard Kept
Famine Fulld
Nine Months
Press Club President Admits
INsting Money Donated
for Starving Austrians
in Own Bank Account
Says Delay Was Necessary
Asserts State of War Made
Transfer Impossible. but
Failed to Tell the Civers

Edward Percy Howard, president OF
the New York Press Club, admitted on
the witness stand yesterday that he
had kept fund subscribed for starry
ing journalists in Vienna in his pri-
vatc account from July. 1920, until
April 1s, 1921, before sending it to Aus
tria. The fund was subscribed follow
ing an urgent appeal made by Herbert
Eocver in May, 1920. Howard ex-
ptained the delay IN sending the fund
on the ground that this country was
in state of war with Austria and that
there were laws against communicating
with the enemy.
The testimony was given before for
mer Supreme Court Justice Peter A.
Hendrick, who is sitting a s referee in
the proceedings brought by members
Of the club asking the court to investi-
gate its affairs. This proceeding was
instituted on April 5, 1921.
During. the course of the hearing
Howard referred to the fund as a
"comic opera fund" as it amounted to
only Sl65. 1t was brought out that an
appeal for the starving Journalists was
made by Herbert Hoover at the annual
dinner CT the club on May /. 1920. AS
a result of this appeal julius Wodiska,
a member of the club, sent in check
for $500 made payable to the New
York Press Club.
Delay Surprised Donor
This cheek was subsequently paid
into the personal account of Howard
on authorization of Mr.. Wodiska, who
wrote to Howard on July 10, 1920. as
follows, according to an exhibit intro
duced:
Sure, you are at, liberty to do any
indorsing necessary. am greatly
surprised that this urgent matter is
held over so long The red tape you
speak of should not be in evidence in
situation o. this kind. Red tape will
relieve no suffering. I have been send
ing food checks to relatives in Vienna
who write TO me that conditions there
Of the middle and poorer classes are
pitifuI."
howard stated he had entered into
communication with the State Depart
mant and Attorney General TO ascer-
tain whether he would be permitted to
send the money to Vienna. He said he
would search his les and produce this
correspondence at the next hearing.
He was then shown 8 Photographic
copy of a letter ne wrote Mr.. Wodiska
on July 10, 1920, in which, after saying
that the matter had been held up by
red tape because che check was made
payable to the Press Club, he added :
Il will therefore deposit your cheek
to my account if this is agreeable to
YOU. and will then forward the amount
to Mr.. Hoover for the purpose of
foods"
Did Not Tell Subscribers
: Asked whether he had informed the
subscribers of the delay in sending the
money to the starving journalists he
replied that he had not thought it
necessary. Asked why he had not sent
the money to Mr.. Hoover as he had
stated he would do in his letter, How
ard repiied that he had held the fund
or while because of the possibility
OF its growing to larger dimensions.
The matter ef the fund was intro
duced by II. Francis Dyruff, counsel
for the petitioners. after lengthy
discussion. 1t was objected to by
Charles NJ. Beattie, counsel for the
defendant trustees, ON the ground that
Z was. not relevant to the inquiry
Howard then produced the copy of a
draft on the Guaranty Trust Company
dated April Is, 1921, made payable to
sWirtschaftverband der Wiener Jour
nalisten." and the amount ives given
as 81 $3.50 kronen