The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-02-01
ERRATIC STOCKHOLDERS OF PLAs-
TER COMPANY USES BUSINESS
MEMS NAMES WITHOUT AU-
THORITY.

y Several prominent Minneapolis bust
ness men were completely nonplussed
Yesterday to find their names appended
to a large advertisement in TIL e
Journal in which the Lawrence
Plaster company was made to appear
as Offering shares in an investment
over 200 per cent per annum.'
The advertisement stated that the
company controlled 1000 acres Of gyp-
The names Of John Washburn of
Y Crosby company; John
G. Butler Of Pillsbury Washburn
company; .. A. Merrill, presi,-
dent of Minnesota Loan and Trust
company; and Charles II. Wheeler Of
the Loan and Trust building, appeared
as officers. They. fastened to deny the
to disclaim all connection with any
get-rich- quick scheme.
ASS matter Of fat, the, incident was
due to the misguided efforts Of stock
holder of the Lawrence Plaster com
pany, whose recent physical condition is
This advertisement was sent by mail
with the request that proof be submit
ted to the sender at his office in the
Loan and Trust building. It was there
approved by the sender and the
advertisement appeared in r he our r
n al according to t he arrangement
made. Il, faa. n
The Tribune of this morning takes ad-
' for q nonsexistent con Concern ~
without due investigation and after it
had been expressly forbidden to do so
matter Of fact Mr.. Wheeler was
not aware Of what was being done by
the advertiser, who had desk room in
his office: Neither is it fact, as
the Tribune states, that the company
|pany has been in process Of formation
here for several months and really does
control large gypsum deposits in New
1 Mexico, as the advertisement stated.
Mr.. Wheeler is president and treasurer,
and associated with him are several
|well-known business men Of Minneapo-
lis. The organization has not yet
reached a point, however, where it has
been deemed advisable to make any
general offering Of stock, altho the com.
pany is satisfied that it has something
of real merit.
When Mr.. Wheeler's office associate
announced some time ago that he had a
brilliant plan for promoting the inter
ests Of the company, little weight was
attached to his statements, as they were
lCIdSSCu Will JULIET I0udIhS duO dCGAOus
which had recently been accounted
strange. e--
J Taken altogether, the case appears tc
be simply one of the kind due to the
mistaken judgment of one individual
protesting to represent other interests
It does not appear that other Minneapo
lis papers are entitled to great credit
, for not running the advertisement, mas
) much as they were as keen for the bust
: ness as anybody, and were prevented
from publishing the matter al
) most by accident. A statemen
from some Of the gentlemen who's
! names were used without authority ha
. been issued in the form Of an open let
3 ter, as follows: - e. >&a... :
: To the Public: Our attention has Just bee
Journ i headed Lawrence Plaster Go: D
= You Want an Investment Paying over 200 pc
Cent per Annum? r. in which advertisement th
9 officers are given as follows: =
n President. John Washburn,s. OF Washburn-Cro
by company ,5tI%t,a5 49, !. ts2,~
Vice president, John q. Butler, Of Pillsbur.
q Treasures, q. a. Merrill. president Minnesot
+ Loan Trust company ~, ~ @%
! We;l,the undersigned, state without qualities
q ton that we never heard of this company b
7 fore seeing this advertisement and are not ar
never were connected with 1t in any way, ar
I, | repudiate the use of our names In connectC
J, with it'in any way whatever s&% -. A.
. .> 30 John Washburn,
q ~ Washburn- Crosby Company.
l. ;3 &.' Ky John g.. Butler,
@. p ..t... Pillsbury- Washburn Company.
=. ,..-.l Z. A. Merrill, .rg.
President Minnesota Loan & Trust Company.
Minneapolis, Mimi, Jan. 81, 1905.