The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-29

/ I
Representations Com w issIon crs
Asked for Information Relative to
the ComEnny's Business Methods.
The District Commissioners are in re-
ceipt of letter with several enclosures
from james p Latta, of Glare. Grant
County. - la. in which some of the af-
fairs of a local subscription book con-
Germ are discussed II appears from the
| CORRESPONDENCE submitted that Mr. Latta
entered into an arrangement In good
faith with the Washington parties TO be-
| come their general agent or manager for
| the Territory OF Oklahoma. He sent his
money for outfit or outfits, and for
| copy of one of their books.
Mr. Latta states that the book did not
| come up to the representations of the
parties here. and that. in fact. it was far
| short of what he had been led to expect.
| Upon receipt of the book. Mr.. Latta wrote
to the parties in Washington, setting
| forth his disappointment, and asked them
| for references that he might satisfy him
| self as to their reliability. methods of
| business, etc. This they failed to do, but
sent Mr.. Latta sharp letter. which is
| submitted. and intmated that probably
| it would not be of much use to try to do
l
| down other peoples affairs.
Mr.. Latta then wrote to the Commits
! sioners of the District. and asked infor-
! nation concerning the parties referred
| to. Commissioner Ross replied to the
communication, forwarding to Mr.. Latta
a statement of the Assessor. to the eff
feet that he had been unable to learn
anything about the business methods of
the concern in question. The present let
ter from Mr.. Latta is in answer to that
of Commissioner Ross, in which the
former expresses his thanks for the
courtesy Of the Commissioner and en-
closing circulars and correspondence of
the company, lin order" as Mr.. Latta
says. TO give you people some idea of
what they are
The circulars describe the book as a
rare and radiant volume the publishing
of which cost s100,o0o 1t is stated that
the book contains nearly 100 full-page en-
cravings secured from the famous gale
ries of Europe, etc. The circulars are re-
plete with expressive adjectives setting
forth the alleged beauties and value of
the work
Against that Mr.. Latta writes: Il have
the book which they describe in the cir
2ular, but instead of coming up to the
description 1t is in about the following
proportions: 1t has $50 instead of nearly |
800 pages as they put it, and has exactly !
sixty-nine engravings, instead of nearly |
100 The book in all respects falls short |
of the description in about the same pro- |
portions. When | received the book from |
them / wrote to them asking why the |
book did not fulfill their description / /
also asked why they had never sent me |
any references or the name of the firm /
Mr.. Latta closes his letter by saying |
that he hopes the Commissioners will be
able TO give these people what they de-
serve"
Mr.. Latta sends seven letters written
to him by the book concern. The first
acknowledges the receipt of references |
sent by Mr.. Latta. and is taken up with /
an expression of the confidence of the !
firm in the ability of Mr.. Lattal to take /
orders for the superb work at the rate
of at least four day The letter closes
by asking Mr. Latta to send 50 for pros
pectus 50 for the completesbook.
The second letter shows that Mr.. Latta |
sent for the complete book, enclosing
Wells Fargo Express order for the
amount. This letter calls attention to
agents confidential circulars, etc The
next four letters are filed with various
expressions of the firms disappointment
at not receiving a letter from Mr.. Latta.
1neN were greatly disappointed on tns
morning of March G. March ii was
really discouraging that no letter had
been received" March the firm had
been thinking of Mr. Latta almost con-
stantly for several days. and 1t was "a
deep disappointment TO them not to re-
ceive letter that day. This letter closes
with the urgent plea: Write or telegraph
appointed and Mr.. Latta was told in a
few choice words that his failure to write
was very embarrassing to the firm, as
they were in doubt whether they should
hold the place open in Oklahoma for
him"
the firm had evidently heard from the
wild and woolly West. Mr.. Latta had
written and had asked some very pointed
questions relative to the book and the |
business generally. The firm acknowl-
edge the receipt of the letter and notes
the objections made to the book. They |
promise to take the matter under advise
ment and to see if something can be done
to remedy the defects. They also state
that In a correspondence with thousands
of agents this is the first to find fault
with the book. Continuing, the company
says:
sions to send one OF your friends to our
place and look over our book and business.
but you have never done SO. Why do you
not send some one here to satisfy your
self that there is such a concern? man
of ordinary business ability and shrewd-
ness would feel satisfied. after having
sent us money and having received the
goods for the money sent. but you seem
to still want to go on and create trouble
and disturbance II it is your intention
not to work as a gentleman should do,
but to continue in this course of fault |
finding, grumbling, complaining. and