The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1899-01-21
GET WORK FOR NOTHING.
Clever Contracts Made with Agents by
Book Publishers. = 81

Clever Contracts Made with Agents by
<%E - Book Publishers q
A correspondent Of the Journal
writes to expose the fraud contained
in many fattering 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
adroitly misleading and grossly deceit
ful contracts to those who are induced
to open correspondence with them by
the hattering advertisements publish
ed. 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
that the applicant work month SELL
ing what books he can, makes delivery,
retains commission, and pays for the
DOCKS. He is then to take the field at
stipulated salary as general agent,
and the shortage in salary of the
month served is to- be allowed. The
salary promised is from SIS to s125
per month" While he is doing his in
ltlatory work he may write himself
blind to get some information concern
Ing his general agency work. This is
Kept back until the months work is
finished. Then he receives a letter
promising him from SIS to $50 per
month, and the last four months of
the first year s1O0 per month. salary
and expenses to be paid out of the
money secured by selling outfits to
agents. The contract sent by pub
fishing firm requires the outfits to
be sold at $3.75 each. Here the scheme
eliminates. Though an agent had the
tongue OF an angel he could never
make his expenses selling outfits at
that price. Many book firms sell these
same outfits at from Is to Is cents. The
contract, it appears, is a very careful
~ Worded one. Virtually it binds the
agent to work for the firm at certain
ngure, but does not bind the firm to
hlre him at that figure The correspon-
oent further says: "Tke 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 had 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 $75 per month. yet
It's construction was so adroit as to
Dlnd the firm to nothing. Another
lady thus deceived went from Lincoln
to Chicago, in the hope of getting her
wrongs righted. There are many 9TH
er persons in the city who have lost
valuable time in trying to get one Of
tnese positions. The secretary of one
OF these book concerns in a 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
a contract is received from a book firm
oHerlng an agency that it would be
we'll to place it in the hands of an at
torney to see whether it is good or not.
DO this before you sign it."-Nebrasks
Journal.