The Washington times., 1903-08-19
FRAUD ORDER ISSUED
AGAINST BLUE COMPANY
Sewing Machine Offered as
a Premium.
ADVERTISING WAS DECEPTIVE
Toy Prize Given and the Company Then
Wanted Apologies for Abuse
Which Followed.
ADVERTISING WAS DECEPTIVE

What is regarded as one of the most
impudent and Cheeky letters ever
sent out by an alleged fraudulent con-
cern was made public yesterday when
the Postoffice Department issued fraud
order against the Reliable Blue Com
pany. of New York The scheme of the
company is getting feeble with age. but
never seems to want for new dupes.
An advertisement was inserted in va
rious papers. 1t began with the word
Free" in capital letters. Then followed
the statement that a high-gra sewing
machine costs from $50 to $40, and
cut of such a machine was printed in the
ad. Don't throw your money away"
continues the ad. but take advantage of
our proposition if you wish to own
sewing machine that will do excellent
sewing; send US your name ant address
at once, and agree to sell only thirty
packages of our washing blue at 10 cents
a package"
The balance of the ad is taken up with
the announcement that on selling the
thirty packages the machine will be sent
prepaid. Anyone foolish enough to send
for the packages, and, after selling
them, to ask for the machine, received
by express a toy sewing machine worth
about so cents. Accompanying the ma
chine was a circular letter, in which
the proprietors of the scheme explained
that they did not offer to send the $50
or $40 machine, but a serviceable ma
chine such as was actually sent. This
specious argument seldom satisfied the
dupes. who complained to the company
and got letter. which read, in part:
Some Unadulterated Nerve.
I've have your letter and would ad
wise you to keep cool and not make any
rash statements before you are sure as
to what you are saying.
'You seem to think that we agreed to
send you an Up-to-date. high grade sew
ing machine, with all the latest attach
ments. If you can show us in our ad-
vertisement where we made any such
agreement Wa viii send you such a sew
ing machine. We desire you 10 be
little patient and listen TO everything We
say in this letter, and then see If you
are not wrong in your conclusion.
''You will notice the first word in the
advertisement is FREE That means
that something is given away and ap-
pears in the advertisement TO attract
the readers attention.
Then We say: AN -up-to-date high
grade sewing machine with all the
latest attachments costs from $50 TO
$40 You know very we'll this is true
To show you the kind of sewing machine
that will cost you the sum we have
mentioned we show in the advertise
ment the picture of such sewing ma
chine. You see it thus far, don't you?
We next say: Don't throw your money
away This is good advice, as you must
admit, and we mean by that, not to
waste your money in buying high-gradc
or high-priced machines.
You Will then find in the next words
in the advertisement distinct PROPOSE
tion and agreement as follows: IF you
wish to own a sewing machine that Will
do excellent sewing. send US your name
and address at once and agree to sell
only thirty packages of our washing
blue at 10 cents a package.
Hurt Company's Feelings.
Now, that is the only agreement we
made, and we carried IL out to the let
ter. Is lit not so? You know 1t and
should not be ashamed to admit it, even
if you were mistaken. We hope you
viii sit down and write US letter and
apologize for insinuating that our OBJ
ject s-fraud. You have hurt our feel
ings very much"
Despite the explicit explanation of
the advertisement and the injured feel
ings Of the advertisers. Charles H. Robb,
Assistant Attorney General for the
Postofice Department. thought the ad-
vertisement was meant 10 deceive, as the
angry customer insinuated, and advised
that the fraud order be issued