Court Ffcht Over Solicita
tion of Notable Men to
Become Members.
MANTEL VAKGAS IS ONE
Police Deputy Harriss Is
Another. Whose Pee Was
Returned to Him.
HAKDIXG DINNER A LURE
I Begistrar Wohltman Charged
With Keeping lp the Work
After Order to Stop.
The elfort of John J Wohltman to
enlist Manuel Vargas. Mexican finan
cial agent in the United States, as a
special member of the New York Press
Club has become the specific point of
action in the present legal warfare
that threatens to revolutionize the in
stitution. There are other and equally
important points ut issue, hut the Var
gas matter was foremost yesterday.
Mr. TVohltman'e reply to Mr. Var
gas's demand for specific data regard
ing the benefits the club had to offer
was made public yesterday. Mr. Wohlt
man, registrar of an organization that
la evolving a world war history, hn*
a contract with the Press Club in
which, prior to March 5, it is asserted
he was empowered to go out and in
duce non-newspapermen to become
members of the club. The privilege of
thus becoming a member of the club
cost the importuned ones varying sums
of money. In Mr. Vargas's case $1 000
was asked.
On March 25. before sending his
cheek. for $1,000, Mr. Vargas wrote to
Mr. Wohltman asking for information.
.. . Ma'one. an agent of Mr. Wohlt
man, had solicited Mr. Varjras exnin',,
icBn'ri"1 '1,00<) admitted the Mex
f fscal agent to special membership
''?presentation in Mr u-nhn .'
World \x-o.. in . Wohltman a
. HIstory and the oi-portu
"hln Jhe .ilf W'th PrGsWent Harding
flc,al '"formation, wrote to Mr Wohlt
man as follows: womt
"Considering the various reasons
ti?? \tllPrn>tht conversation hald be.
