Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-12-28
Hoe Tom LaQSon Has 6lade and Lost Seoerul Fortunes

Boston, Mass. Thomas w, Lawson Is
the enigma OF the stock market, Des-
pite his assertion that the great break
IN Amalgamated and other copper
shares Is due to tho tactics of his OPP
ponents who are trying to encompass
his ruin there are many wealthy spec
ulators and investors who would pay
literally to know definitely which side
of the market Lawson 10 on, says the
Chicago lnter-Ooean, For weeks the
stocks IN which he Is generally sup
posed to be interested have been bonn
barded with relentless ylgor, The
price OF Amalgamated has been driven
down from l3O to So, Taking for
granted the truth OF Lawsons asser-
ton that he Is the holder Of 10000 Of
these shares, bis loss at one time was
S9,lOO,0OO, This loss, It Is true was in
paper value only Lawson says he
has bis stock an paid for and put away
and that the depreciation does not af-
feet It's notwithstanding value, but
nevertheless 1t is a shrinkage that
would aprall ana intimidate most men.
no matter how stout-hearted they
might DO. But through all the fearful
bombaldment Lawson has never lost
his courage or good nature To all
outward appearances he has been conf
dent and happy and apparently on
easy street financially.
IL Is this phase OF the unusual sit
uation that makes many smart men
think that Lawson Is really Il winner
by the depreciation In values despite
his claim OF being a heavy holder OF
copper shares There are one or TWO
things about this slump that don't look
natural to me, said a Spectator today.
Lawson lays the blame ON myster-
ious coterle OF big spectators who are
cunning for him. But 1t Is a curious
thing that he went into the market
today and bid Il Of | per cent for the
privilege OF calling 100000 shares Of
Amalamated at 50 when II could be
openly bought for 72la, nobody took
him up. outsiders, of course, were
afraid TO do so but II this big mysterious
clique Is really fighting Lawson, It had
great opportunity 10 hit him a deadly
blow, as Il Is In control OF the market
ana can evidently put the price where
Il pleases hut the offer was not ac-
ceptcd. / can't understand this neg
lect OF q chance TO make Lawson ante.
IL looks to me Ike q bluff on his part
to bolster a bull move IN order to coax
IN some buyers Another thing He
offered to buy the next dividend at 5la
per cent. That was another bull move
as It indicated belief on his part that
the dividend would be more than 5la,
II this mysterious clique ls fighting him
why wasn't that bid taken? Lawson
can't know much about the coming ac-
ton Of the directors unless he is ON the
inside"
I'm the face Of all this It may be said
that II Lawson Is playing q double
game It Is The first lime he has ever
attempted anything OF that kind He
has built up monster business and
made himself wealthy by sticking close
TO his friends ana making sure that
their interests were protected In all
speculative deals, Il was this qualify
that was his sole capital In the early
part OF his career. and those who know
him intimately are loath TO believe that
change has come over him, You'll
never find Tom Lawson throwing
down his friends said an operator
when asked abou this trai, Of his char
acter. 1--WE been IN many big deals
both with and against him, and must
say that I never met a man who was
stancher IN protecting those interested
with him. ! know of seyera ocoa-
sions on which he pocketed losses when
ne might have gotten away with hand
some profile by simply taking care Of
HIMSELF IN other words, by giving those
associated with him the double cross
hut he wouldn't do It. ! confess that
the present deal has a Gu lous 'ook bu
you can't make me think for a mo
ment that Lawson is throwing NJ
friends, and that's what he would h
20 do II he We're In right on the ma
ket"
Lawson Is the most unique figure ~
American speculative circles His Bos-
ton firm does an immense business, and
an several spocialties has for years been
q controlling factor In the market
Despite this neither Lawson nor his
partners are members of the Boston
stock exchange Their applications for
membership have been repeatedly re-
fused, and the firm IL compelled to do
Its trading through other concerns, The
reason for this is that Lawson Is too