The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1898-10-06
GET WORK FOR NOTHING.
Clever Contracts Made with Agents by
q Book pnh1;shars. %I5s 81

Clever Contracts Made with Agents by
Book Publishers.
e a correspondent Of the Journal
writes to expose the fraud contained
IN In many fiattering offers made by book
publishers to prospective agents, and
as great many people are constantly
being made the victims Of these con-
tracts, the exposition of the fraud is
certainly timely. Speaking Of the
methods employed by book manufac-
turers to secure agents, and get agency
work done, he says: .They send out
a aay misleading and grossly deceit
Iul contracts to those who are induced
70 open correspondence with them by
Inc Inc natterlng advertisements publish
ca. These advertisements promise
large salaries, and in that way entice
many honest employment seekers. The
! contracts sent out would appear, to
any one but lawyer, to promise lu-
cratlVe positions. The conditions are
mat the applicant work a month sell
Ing what books he can makes delivery,
retains commission, and pays for the
JOCKS. He is then to take the field at
stipulated salary as general agent,
ana the shortage in salary of the
month served is to be allowed. The
salary promised is from s75 to s125
per month While he is doing his in
ltlatory work he may write himself
pilnd to get some information concern
ing MS general agency work This is
Kept back until the months work is
nnlshed. Then he receives: a letter
promising him from SIS to $50 per
month, and the last four months of
the hrst year $500 per- month, salary
and expenses to be paid out of the
money secured by selling outfits to
agents. The contract sent by pub
lshlng hrm requires the outfits to
De SOLD at 1915 each. Here the scheme
eliminates. Though an agent had the
tongue OF an angel he could never
make his expenses selling outfits at
tnat price. Many book firms sell these
same outfits at from Is to Is cents. The
contract, it appears, is very careful
~ "orded one. Virtually it binds the
agent to work for the firm at a certain
ngure, but does not bind the firm to
hlre him at that figure. The correspon-
oent further says: 1.-THE result of this
scheme is that the book manufacturer
gets work out of many persons, some
OF whom leave good positions to ac-
cept the enticing offer. A lady gave
up her school last year to accept one
OF these offers, and when she found
she mad been deceived came to Lincoln
to consult her attorney. The attorney
at once Informed her that, while nine
out OF ten persons outside the law
profession would think her contract
binding the firm to SIS per month, yet
It's construction was so adroit as to
olnd the firm to nothing. Another
lady thus deceived went from Lincoln
TO Chicago, in the hope of getting her
wrongs rlghted. There are many 9TH
er persons in the city who have lost
valuable time in trying to get one Of
these positions. The secretary of one
OF these book concerns in recent let
ter to me says: You had better place
the contract in the hands of some intel
llgent person who can explain it.. Now
l wish to pass this advice on to the
general public and advise that when
contract is received from a book firm
oHerlng an agency that it would be
well to place it in the hands of an at
torney to see whether it is good or not.
DO this before you sign it''-Nebraska
Journal sF> ~. as.5