Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-02-02
Spectators Broke the $500
Pool in Banquet Tickets
All a Joke
SOME PITIFuL EXPERIENCES
Practical Jokers Used Hold Up Scheme
to Raise Balance of Banquet Money
Needed = Shorts Compromise at
Their Own Priees-2oe Tickets Sold
and Money Raised.

The corner in banquet tickets is
busted" AT the opening of the mar
ket tomorrow morning few will be
sold at so cents but only enough to fiji
the vacancies Of those who have
bought and can not attend. Chairman
Sloan attributes the disaster to
his pool to the action of
such pernicious spectators and
scalpers as Lander, Densel and
Garvfn. who, when lucky enough to
have bought long at so cents, proceeded
to break the market by dumping their
holdings at $3.50 and So per.
The fact of the matter was the sky
rocket rise to SIS was all joke, which
Is best appreciated by those who were
caught in the squeeze. When BAN
quet was first suggested the CONNER
cjal Club directors were shrewd enough
to unload the deal onto special COM
mlttee of arrangements composed of
Messrs. H. F.. Sloan, G.. r. Speers, j. II.
Ruth, B. H. Howig and George r. Esta-
brook. The directors decided that the
price should be made so cents per plate
and whatever extra cost was necessary
should be raised by the committee on
arrangements. Finally when a $3.50
banquet had been planned for 200 at
only so cents plate the committee was
dismayed.
Estabrook and pod" took to the
woods, but the oil nagnate, the steel
baron and the grocery shark were equal
to the emergency.
Put up your price" said Ruth; your
monopoly Is established. That's the
way the Standard people do. used
to work for them"
"Lord!!!" exclaimed Sloan. Some
people'll never buy lrunes until the
market has advanced. Capital scheme!"
That's 1t! Dumheound them with
your first bid and catch them on the
extras" agreed the steel baron. Good
business"
And so the pool was agreed upon.
Every member Of the committee was to
sign his tickets over 10 Sloan and Sloan
was to hold up the laggards for what
ever he could get until the necessary
subscription was raised.
Ben Morgan was the first victim. He
had sold a card full Of tickets, twenty
in number, at his store, but forgot to
sign for his own. 7, cost him IS.
The cards were taken up as adyer-
tised on Thursday evening. Dotson had
read all of the notices in his paper, but
had failed to get ticket. Being per-
sonal friend Sloan let him in for So.
Norris compromised for SIS for fear that
some one would stop the paper.
At the Fidelity Bank, Henry Howe
signed the first one on the card, but
George F. Kirby Delayed. He had ac-
cepted an invitation 10 make the lead
ing address of the evening, so Sloan let
him in for SIS. This is positively the
first time Mr.. Kirby ever paid IS for
the privilege Of making a speech
Howe can't get over 1t yet.
Alb Click was chairman of the pro-
gram committee and bought ticket
early to start the sale along, but later
thought 1t was his duty as executive In
charge to invite Rev. Lehman as his
special guest to bless the food. 1t cost
Alb SIS, but he was sure the blessing
would be worth the price.
l.. C. Abbott, expresident of the club
and moving spirit in the enterprise. just
forgot, that was all. 1t cost him SIS and
the use of a gasoline stove to remember.
Geo A. Turner suffered worst of all.
He bought a ticket but lost 1T. Sloan
said he had another just like 1t for IS
md Turner hunted all day Sunday for
the first one with no success.
Lou" Peckham wanted to go. of
course. but he'd been toy busy to get
MS ticket Being good customer of
he house Sloan fixed him out all right
ror IS.
But 1t was really pathetic when
prominent deacon in the Congrega-
ional church called Mr.. Sloan by tele- |
,hone. This occurred Saturday even
ng. He wanted to know If it would be
all right" if he brought guest. He
,ad thought 1t would be nice thing
or him to invite the Rev. Mr.. S!nden.
oh, yes" answered Sloan, bring him
along" "All right" said the deacon.
believe, then, I'll invite Mr.. Beaman,
co." Good" said Sloan, bring 'em
ILL.," and slammed back the receiver
while he jumped over table cracked
lis heels together and fairly reared
Just listen for that telephone now
He'll get the paper in few minutes
he said to his wife and he roared again
In. about fifteen minutes the tele-
phone rang with furious burr-r-r
The boy had delivered the T.-R in the |
meantime. as this Mr.. Sloan?" We'll. |
what is this l read in the paper about |
banquet tickets?' ooh, yes" replied |
Sloan. you see. Jim, we had to adj
,ance the price. The banquet will cost
IS so much more" "Now look here,
Mr.. Sloan, I always contribute my |
,hare to every public enterprise but !
lad no idea that we would be asked to
oay SIS for each ticket" That's hard
uck," cut In Sloan. You have got
quite list, haven't you, Jim?"
The matter was compromised.
Representative Cummings had ac-
.epted an invitation to speak and
Sloan had seen the acceptance. Frank
oaid SIS if Saon would keep still about
t till after the campaign.
This morning the committee made
,rief canvass of the business distrlc'
elling the remaining tickets at what
yer price the purchasers were cheer
ully willing to give and the balance
necessary to defray the extra expense
vas soon raised in amounts from ~
o 50.
But the best part of 1t all was thai
n their glee at their bright idea ana
heir hurry to squeeze the shorts III
\, air h,,ll ,,,ovanNpf Gpaars and tlStd-