The morning call., 1892-12-09
1T TOOK THEM IN.
How Endowment Leagues
Operate.
HARD-EARNED WAGES LOST
Mrs. Mary Mitchell Tells of Her Elk.
perience With One of the
Societies.

Mrs. Mary Mitchell OF 92i Tehama street
has just completed the purchase of her ex-
perience with gilt-edged endowment socie-
ties and fancy fraternal organizations.
Like a good, hard working woman she Is
anxious to save others from treading the
thorny path over which she has been
dragged for several months past to meet
only with loss of time. work and money.
my husband and Ihave lived for twenty
six years In San Francisco" said Mrs.
Mitchell. For the last fourteen years he
has been hard-working, deep-sea fisher
man.
''After years of hard work we managed
to buy and own three boats. While my
husband ished / kept a boarding house,
where the twenty-five fishermen c0nstitut-
ing mis- crews lived and took their meals.
I'm this way We worked and toiled year
by year. until we had saved up $1,000 for our
old age.
-Four years ago an agent Of the Pacific
Endowment League called upon US, and eX-
planned the advantages of his society, which
he claimed was the 'grandest poor mans
scheme in the world We were to- pay SIS,
spread over a period of three years and a
half. in order to receive $500.
In common with thousands of others /
Joined the league.
Il paid an entrance fee of $40 for my
husband and myself together with So. be-
ing three months lodge dues in advance.
After that for one year we paid 81 month
lodge fees as arranged.
THE second year we paid S. month in
addition TO our 81 lodge fees as agreed. After
the tenth month We suddenly got notice to
pay SO month in addition to our lodge fee.
L protested TO collector named Powell,
but he had plausible story always ready
concerning temporary pressure aud future
saving, and l was too busy to do more than
trust him.
six months later we received notice to
pay $50 q month besides our lodge dues.
Again we met the charges, working harder
than ever. AT the latter part of the third
year the charges were raised TO $50 month.
Then We were done for. We couldn't
raise the money. and fearful of FORGETTING
all We had paid in. l went to the office and
petitioned. They told us 10 pay So month
and give them notes or our coupons for the
balance at the rate of 10 per cent interest.
This we were obliged to do 10 save what we
had paid.
and S42 in lodge fees. To-day l have re-
ceived SIT and my husband S15 40, and
am told to expect no more.
"A friend of ours left US his coupon to
cover his funeral expenses. These latter
cost us Sis. We paid $3.50 DIN assessments
and fees on his coupon, and to-day re-
ceived SD SO payment upon it.
My friend. Mrs. DEM Of Sansome street.
whose husband has been sick in bed for fif-
teen years, Is in worse plight than we are
Mrs. FIccini, poor woman with nine
children and crippled husband, Is broken
hearted at the state Of affairs.
thousands OF poor people in this city
are at the mercy of tue league. Clothes have
been pawned and short rations only allowed
in our families TO meet these heavy assess
ments.
What can we poor people do?' asked
Mrs. Mitchell tearfuiy. I'VE thought the
laws of the land could never permit such
torturing aud robbery OF its citizens. /
went to lawyer long ago. but he asked me
for 500 before he would say word. |
hadn't the money to give him.
Are there no wealthy citizens to save
and protect US from these colossal frauds
which cur hard work and limited educations
keep us from understanding?
I'VE supposed that it was to the interest
Of this great country that the rich and edu-
Gated should protect the poor and hard
working classes. 1t is in the hope that some
good citizens attention may be drawn ac-
lively 10 take interest in this matter that |
have given you all these particulars of our
treatment
MY husband and myself can 60 on work.
log, but hundreds of less fortunate people
are broken down and don't know which
way 10 turn for help and encouragement
They had hoped at least to get back the
ices they paid In, to raise which they have
pawned and pledged clothes, tools ana all
thatenabled them to earn a livelihood"