The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-07-15
DIDN'T WORK IN BUTTE
Callahan Says His Shoe Scheme
Is q Fizzle.
IT CAUGHT SALT LAKE
A Proposition OF Magnificent Propor-
tions Which Petered Out for the
Pathetic Need OF Little
Coin,

" '''e IVY 10 eAPiaiheu III Tic
following from the Salt Lake Herald:
One thousand. two thousand. possi-
b,v tbres +bo,sa,a ,,,,,. Ill, -, -.
, p'op'e "4ii So'ii
Sun 10 wonder what mas become OF J.
ID. Callahan, late manager proprietor,
sole owner and bustIer for tho "anar-
;oo ch
'o' Company ina. eaptiNatihs
"a footwear proposition which furnished
the kicks" for the handsome sum of
25 CENTS Callahan has "went !" His
COMPANY mas eioseo its ooors-he fhahes
no bones about t-and something like
| 900 coupon books. which cost the hold
ou Q, a;a eo+,n oro,,,a ,,;t,
little chance OF pelng casheo IN.
The scheme was magnitudinous. The
fra djtional sucker fell in with little
hesitation briefly stated. Callahan
sold to one man for rs cents a little
hook containing four coupons. The
buver sold the four coupons for 25 cents
each Those who bought of him each
presented the coupons with 81 for a
hook for Themselves. and that done the
original buyer for his energy and
hustling procliyities. was entitled to a
"a pair of shoes for the money he
| turned in fran the sale of the coupons
The other BUYERS did the same. selling
their four coupons. which. when pre-
scented with the 81 at Callahan's office.
gave them the snap shoe privilege. He,
AFT any rate made q. profit of 25 cents an
each pair of shoes. receiving S425 for
the 81 shoe-and in a. case where one of
the BUYERS failed TO turn in and buy a
book. he made the 81. 25 deposited by the
less successful agent
The scheme was a somewhat compli
Gated one, but. of course. Callahan
wasn't in it for his health. He neces-
sarily made money by the endless chain
Arrangement. How much Callahan
made in Salt Lake can only be sur
missed. A great MANY were lucky. the
coupons they sold being turned in.
when thew received the shoes forthwith.
but as So many were so soon Stumbled.
the hosts found IT harder to dispose of
their coupons.
The scheme locally took root when
two or three months ago Callahan an
preached Manager Aaron Levitt of the
Davis shoe contrary with the nronosi
ton 10 sell shoes for him. explaining
the plan. and closing the contract
whereby the Davis neople should allow
him 10 per cent. for all he sold. The ar
raneement was spot cash and Gala
nan advanced 300 TO nav for all shoes
ordered bv him.
The first dav out 20 orders came in.
the second ahout 90 and a like number.
on the third Then If was slower. hut
In ali the Davis people have furnished
about 400 nairs IF ~ shoes TO Gala
hams boosters. 80
This gives but rough estimate of
the way coupons Went ont. If being
necessary 10 soil ar Ieast % Of Thorn he
fore one nad, Of shoes could he had
casual and fair estimate is that Gala
nan oct s1s o,,t Of ayory cole Of t1,oa,
Weeks went an the n,1n,he, of hooks
sold Increasing and fine number of shoes
sold decreasing every dau
Finally. some weeks ago. Callahan
came TO Mr. Levitt and said the thing
had got To end some time and when ii
ended there would he trouble When
asked whv he RENTED that thara would
he a, lot OF co,,non hooks ont and he
would he unable tn nav for the shoes
upon demand The manager who then
saw through the proposition. would,
under no circumsta noes, agree No fur,
nisb shoes at a. less nrice when asked
He answered that he would give every
nair Of shoes Callahan WA nted IN order
after the cash had been deposited to
nav for them. The work continued in
ali its glory.
Three weeks ago Callahan told Mr.
Levitt he was going No Rutte saving
there was a big opening there. and
leaving a Miss ErdIv in charge Of the
business here He also left SD on de-
nnsit with the Davis neonle and a s,Im
With Miss Frdlv SLOWLY This vas Maid
ont to customers and last Friday found
the REIMBURSEMENT without funds
The Iadv In charge wired. "oe5ce
closed here unless Won send money
Wire answer"
Poor callahan His verv interesting
answer came Yesterday nv mail II
reads.
quite Mont JuIv 10 1900 Mr.
Aaron Levitt president Davis shoe
7 have DELAYED writing this letter 70
Won until the last moment 'honine Thai
IL would not he necessary to do so Rut
the very worst has come 10 mass. 10 he
brief. I am broke and cannot furnish
money To keen the salt Lake business
going came to This CITY so f,l of con-
fidence in the success of INV shoe idea,
that T could see NO chance For ~ 10 fail
TO make money 7 Maid s75 No a man
that was bore three 5aIs abaad Of ~
70 1eeva TIC oit,, thaa eta,.oa ~,
What 7 considere5 the nrnner wev 10
make the scheme 90 Sant o,t so,ici.