New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-27
FRAUD ORDERS READY.
FOB MEDICAL HUMBUGS.
Nearly 100 Cases already Decided
bv the PoStoffce Department.
LTROx TIE TRIBUNE BUREAU ]

LTR0N TIE TRIBUNE BUREAU
washington May 26.-Tne Postofice Depart
,nept- IN pursuance OF its determination 10 deny
- -rivileses OF the mails to patent medicine
concerns operating in violation Of the law. and
- animate Objectionable advertisements from
-. newspapers and other publications. has al
-.sav investigated and decided nearly one hun
- ~ the most fragrant OF these cases. While
-. analyses Of the medicines have disclosed IN
-r,stalzable and preneditated fraud on the part
- .hs manufacturers and distributors, and a
careful and unpr<3udiced examination Of thei-
esverttseEnents and literature reveals a depth OF
ss,rsv1rv hitherto unsuspected. undue haste in
-. pronulgation OF fraud orders viii be avoided
N order that the department may work no in
sustice IN is crusade
The attention Of newspaper publishers viii be
called from tine 10 time 10 the fact that certain
.avs-riseneuts carried IN their publications are
not only preJudiciaI 10 public morals. but are
s,st,nct violations OF the law. and that their dis
continuance must be insisted upon II viii be
POINTED out that fraud orders have been or will
=. ,ssued by the Postmaster General against the
-,anutacru-ers Of these spurious remedies. and
.hs. failure 10 comply with the suggestion OF
.ha sepe-r-nsrt VIII result in the exclusion from
re mails OF newspapers and other publications
carving their Advertisements. In this way off,
.isls Of The Postofice Department intend gradu-
ally hut perslstently 10 aid reputable publishers
n the- desire 70 exclude objectionable matter
4-or, their columns. A Uniform Official ruling
Will accomplish that purpose, for. while II would
he ir,practcable and poor business policy for
publishers 10 decline 10 receive an advertisement
that did not on us face suggest Improperly.
when fortified by the results OF the departments
investigation and ruling. there could be 10 ques-
ZION as 10 The necessity Tor eliminating II from
their columns.
The attention OF postal officials has recently
been directed 70 the fact that many reputabls
arug concerns manufacturing staple remedies
also include II their output articles which
chemical analyses show are incapable CT accom-
ulishing the wonderful cures alleged FOR them.
Some Of these manufacturers have already ap-
peared before the department and volunteered
70 discontinue the manufacture, sale and dis
srsbut.on OF such objecriona Die nosuruuas, with
the understanding that. with that element
dropped The prosecution OF their legitimate
business would not be lnrerfeTed with Such an
e--angenent is entirely satisfactory 10 the post
Office officials. whose only purpose IS 70 suppress
sake" patent medicine concerns. drive Quack
doctors out OF business. and eliminate sug-
gestive advertisements from newspapers and
other publications. When such a proposition Is
submitted n good faith. reputable raanusact-
long as they refrain from violating the law.
There Is 10 disposition On The part Of the 6e-
parrment 70 punish them for past Questionable
practices, for the end sought VIII have been
accomplished 4 the 6isconLnuanoe OF thesnanu-
ianture and sale OF fraudulent remedies.
HOW TESTIMONIALS ARE SECURED.
Testimonials are an important part Of the
equipment OF 3 largely advertised and success
ri but spurious patent medicine industry, and
some OF the methods employed Ii securing them
have been revealed IN me Investigation made
by the department one firm admitted that il
had agents constantly looking Our for men and
women who formerly occupied responsible
places n their communities. but had met dnan-
cial reverses. Those whose credit was gone and
who had contracted bills they could not pay
were their particular prey. Agents would
quietly obtain possession OF their unpaid ac-
counts, and. when sufficient number had been
Secured, pressure woU-1 De applied. An IN
sGlpGloCs attorney would De employed and ce
mallcs made Tor payment The distressed VIC
I'M mace desperate by MS inability 10 meet the
Obligations and the threats OF his prosecutors
Wol-c nnallys II response 70 commands, call
a. The once OF the attorney There ne would
Dc tolo that q receipt for all MS outstanding
bills would b given i he would sign and
bGe@r 70 testimonial In most cases this vas
s1ectual, z notary was called IN, the harassed
otolof signed the testimonial placed before him,
1Ao mat = ING document was then spread broad
mails.
Other admissions made TO the department off,
Gals snow that II e the practice OF these con-
Germs 10 ma needy but presumably respectable
lLen ana women, and buy their signatures 70
sssInonlals outright by q payment Of money.
ms does away with al the ANNOYANCE 70 which
pateA medicine testimonial manufacturers
H1sht De subjected IL they resorred 70 the easier
tlo less expensive eEpeclenr OF forgery. These
a. Only TWO CT many illustrations Of The meth
cls employed by concerns foistIng their fraudu-
81 wares on the public II violation Of the law
sl4A department officials have brought 10
lent IN The present crusade and they are de-
sf1aned that Il the law and its vigorous en-
.oteeInent can stamp out such evils no effort
suppression.