Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-02-18
Euennp Fusdap Frbnuarg Is 1902
Observation-Disclosures
5 LOCKER ON in IOWA.
XsOsy.sYsXsY:SOsssDsYS0s00S
For the Times-Republican.


of this town for using device on
scales which enabled him to under
weigh the cattle, hogs. ETC., which he
bought OF the farmers. AS the arrest
was made at Bancroft, and the man
taken at Algona, it was seit-eVlueh.
Typographical error, but the cltlZens
here don't want it passed without cor
rection. They want it disunctiy IN
dcrstood no such man ever lived mere
ever bought stock here, or could i've
here 80 minutes of he transacted pusi-
ness that way.
BY the way. since this arrest was
made. several stock and grain men
have told the LOCKER on that this
device, sometimes called "a spreader.
sometimes "a shrinker." has been pub
licly advertised in circulars the modus
operandi, being fully explained and
the price being very low. considering
the profits it would soon bring thd
user, providing he was like BOY
shown the writer the other day by d
man who remarked. that boy will live
to be president of the United States,
If ne keeps out of jail"
n
the other day, which brings out some
fine points both of business and re-
ligion 1t seems that in one of our
western states prominent state OIL
cial was also a prominent ofhclai
of the get rich-quick investment
company. Said preacher knew said
official, was also prominent member
of our church" So the preacher
wrote the official. Il notice you are
one of the officers of the get-rich-
quick company. have a little money
that l want to earn more than per
cent, at which / now have 1t loaned
Do you advise me from your knowledge
of the company affairs to put 1t into
your stock? Yours in Christ" etc.
And this substance was the answer:
..Dear Brother. Yours at hand. You
write me your money is now invested
at per cent. advise you to keep
1t there. Our company was formed
for the purpose OF taking care of the
money of persons not so well posted In
business matters as you are, etc. etc.
Now the good preacher asks the
sinful layman, what did brother SO
and SO mean? Does he intend 1t as
sarcasm on my business ability? or
was he in earnest so that II the COM
pany Is failure / can thank him for
keeping my money out of it? And Is
he In earnest about taking care OF
peoples money who know but little
of business?" And Notwithstanding the
writer's ability to advise preachers
how to run the churches, he was
Obliged to answer all of these questions
by don't know"
One thing is sure. Many of these
companies are taking care of peoples
money who are not accustomed to
business methods. In an Iowa town
one day, the writer heard clerk In
store tell another man who was pro-
posing soome trade. Il can't afford
it this year. l took 90 shares in an
investment company the other day
for them" what company was it,
asked the writer. Il don't know the
name of it, it's the one -- - is
president of (and the clerk mentioned
a very familiar name.) How long do
YOU have to pay $40 month before
they are paid up?" "Oh. don't know
two or three years" was the answer.
How did you happen to invest?" asked
this scribe. why, because our bank
err came in here with two men from -.
and the banker took 20 shares. and
several business men in town have
too Why, isn't the company all right
And again the agnostic didn't know
anything about it. At that writing,
the letter to the preacher had not been
mentioned to the writer. Then. 1t
was not so plain that such companies
are formed for taking care of the
money of those unaccustomed to bust
ness methods"
This is sort Of pessimistic screed
so it may as we'll be finished in that
line. In an Iowa town where the
writer dropped in the other day, they
are having revival meetings. 1t so
happens the writer does not know who
is running things" so feels all the
more free to mention what follows.
Walking into a meat market, tackled
UP prominently was cardboard, on
which was printed in large capital let
tiers. Where will you spend eternity
OF course the writer saw no connec-
ton between the meat business and
eternity. Then in a billiard room, on
similar card with the same big let
tars, all visitors We're informed. Jesus
died to save sinners like YOU" In the
hotel, in the office, was another card.
having similar pulpit utterances. In
fact in nearly every public place We're
these cards. And finally some one ex-
planned to the writer that this was the
way they advertised the meetings. Now
the writer in all kindness to the men
who are using such methods. will pos
itively state such advertising does not
pay. If these good brethren could
have heard the remarks made In these
places, caused by such unwise use OF
sacred words ard sentiments. they
would more than regret their action
AS may be supposed the writer is far
from being "squeamish" or prude
but some of the stories told, language
used and remarks made by those who
read aloud the words on these cards
made him blush both for the men who
told the stories and the man or men
who put up the cards. Once more,
gentlemen, such advertising doesn't
pay"
u % myeu14A,>