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WHITE RATS MAY LOSE CLUB HOUSE FURNISHINGSf $5,000 Chattel Mortgage Demands Judgment, ith Overdue, Tomorrow; Meeting Held to De Means of Raising Money and Saving SituationWith the strike of the White Eats against the Vaudeville Managers’ Protective Association declared off, the organization is now facing new difficulties, for unless $5,000 is obtained to raise the chattel mortgage on the clubhouse furnishings, held by Jacob J. Lubel, of 1229 Park Avenue, by tomorrow the property will be removed from the clubhouse in satisfaction of the deed tendered by Harry Mountford at the time the loan was granted, according to Mr. Lubell.The mortgage was made by Harry Mountford as president of the White Rats Realty Co., on December 19, 1916, and was to become due on March 19, last. The sum of $5,000 and interest was to have been paid over then.But, as the White Rats were in the midst of their strike at that time they explained to Lubell that they had the money but needed it for their work in carrying on the campaign and asked for an extension of thirty days.After a long conference, at which Frederick Zorn, attorney for Lubell was present, it was finally decided to extend the time of the loan for another month, or until April 19. At that time, .Lubell informed the White Rats representatives that he would not grant a further extension under any circumstances.When the announcement was made that the strike had been called off Lubell got into touch with the White Rats and told them that he would have to get his money on the day it was due or his attorney would take measures to foreclose the mortgage. A plea was made for a further extension of time but Lubell was reluctant to listen.On Monday a representative of the White Rats attempted to get Lubell to delay the proceedings for a few days, but he proved obdurate and informed the party that he had placed the matter in the hands of Zorn for action.The mortgage which was given covers practically all of the furnishings in the clubhouse, including beds, mattresses, barber chairs, typewriters, cashier’s desk, pool and billiard tables, racks, cues office fixtures and liquor and wines.A clause in the mortgage states that should the amount of liquor on hand diminish to less than $1,000 in value the mortgage becomes due immediately.A provision made in the mortgage is that if the mortgagee is compelled to foreclose, that he have the privelege of the use of the building for thirty days, to rearrange the furniture and fixtures for sales purposes.A meeting was held in the clubhouse last night which lasted until the early hours of this morning. At the meeting the matter of meeting the present contingency was taken up, but nothing could be ascertained as to what course will be taken by the organization.Both Mountford and Fitzpatrick were not about the clubhouse as frequently asusual during the past few days. It was stated that Fitzpatrick was out of town and that Mountford was busy about the city.It was stated at the clubhouse that, with the calling off of the strike, there would be no further “assessment levy” on performers’ salaries, and that members would only be obligated to pay their regular dues in the future.This evening a. benefit originally arranged for the strike fund, prior to the suspension of the strike will be held in Webster hall. Twenty White Rats acts are scheduled to appear at this performance.The calling off of the strike was made at a closed meeting of the White Rats. Harry Mountford announced to the members assembled that the strike of their organization against the members of the Vaudeville Managers’ Protective Association had been abandoned, temporarily, oil account of the war. He stated that this decision had been reached at a special meeting of the International Board which was held at midnight on Monday. He stated that a wire was sent to President Wilson and Samuel Gompers, president of the American Federation of Labor, with which body the White Rats are affiliated, early on Tuesday morning, telling them of the action of the international board.The contents of the wire, which were in the form of resolutions, were passed at the meeting. It stated that, as the United States was at war, it was the duty of every citizen to see that our country is not divided by factional or civic strife of any character whatever, so that the full effort of all may be devoted to bring the ■war to a successful conclusion. Therefore, it was the duty* of any component part of the organizations affiliated with the American Federation of Labor, to suspend any factional differences or dispute which they may have at such a time, as was promised by Samuel Gompers, *at a meeting of the National Defense Council recently.The message stated that the Rats were conducting a strike against sixty theatres in various parts of the country in consequence of a lockout ordered by the Vaudeville Managers’ Protective Association against its members. So, therefore, on account of the present crisis the White Rats were willing to release their members for such service as the nation may require, that they would have time to devote their undivided energies to the defense of their country. And for this reason, the message declared, the organization would suspend this strike until the country is again at peace, and that the organization would pledge its undivided support in every possible way to President Wilson and the country.When Mountford was seen after the announcement he was asked whether he had used the present difficulties of the country as a subterfuge to end the strike. He replied that the message sent to the President told the whole story.
Newspaper Details
New York Clipper
New York, New York, US
Wed, Apr 18, 1917
Page 3
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 24 Jun 2020
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