The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-06-13
EASY MONEY MAKER.
How Some strsngers Are Raking in
the Cash by Selling Contracts to Ap-
point Agent and Sell a Washing
Machine.

Machine.
AT least dozen people have come
to us and complained about the way
some well dressed, glib talking strang-
ers are raking in the money from
sen1e of their neighbors and friends on
g. washing machine proposition.
Among the number that called on US
was one man who had given his note
for % payable in so days for
.''ce .racr'' with these washing ma
chine folks. He had his contract"
with him to our mind it is an extraor-
nary document. This contract was
not sold to this man by the washing
machine people themselves, but was
sold to him by neignbor and friend
who had bought a contract to sell
CONTRACTS as well as sell washing
machines himself from the washing
machine people, for which we were
Informed he paid five hundred dollars.
AS we said above, the man who
called on US and showed us his "con-
tract gave two notes for two hun
dred and fifty dollars each for the
paper. One of these notes was given
TO his friend and nedghbor who had
induced him to buy the contract,
which was his pay for inducing
neighbor and friend to invest in
great money making scheme" and
the other note was given to the wash
ing machine agent, who was present
wnen the bargain was closed and the
notes signed. The gentleman says
as an inducement to get him to buy,
the washing machine agent said he
would advance him one hundred and
twenty-five dollars in cash if he
would sign the notes and that as soon
as the notes were signed and the
agent had them in his possession he
declined to let him have any cash,
but credited him with sixty-two dol
ars and fifty cents on each Of the two
notes which he had given for the
contract No doubt the generous
washing machine agent thought the
act very magnanimous one, but the
giver Of the note did not so regard il.
We read over rather hurriedly the
contract this man showed US, and
for which he was to pay five hundred
dollars in sixty days. It was quite
long document printed in blank with
names and amounts filed in with ink.
It was signed by the newly appoint-
ed agent and not by the washing ma
chine man himself. It has quite
number Of conditions and provisos as
to the rights of the party buying and
the party selling, which we cannot
recall. Take away the technicahties,
we understand the document to give
the man who had bought il the right
to sell contracts and sell washing
machines. He was TO charge five
hundred dollars for each contract
he sold, Of which amount he was to
receive one half for selling the con
tract" and the other half was TO go
to the washing machine people. II
will be seen that when he sold two
contracts he would have his
money back that he paid for his
contra ct.'' The selling Of con
tracts is the biggest part Of the
business, while selling Of machines
seems to be secondary matter.
However the washing machine people
get about one-third of the money for
which each machine is sold by the
different agents. This is about orr
recollection Of the contract" but as
we do not wish to do any one an in
justice we will be glad to publish the
contract" in full as soon as we can
get one.
It will be seen that it is a mighty
soft snap for the washing machine
people. They scoop up the money
going and coming. They get five
hundred dollars for every contract"
they themselves sell, and two hun
dre and fifty dollars for every con
tract" that the man they sell con
tracts" to sell, and so it goes. AS
we understand the contract" we
saw, it did not limit the buyer Of a
contract to any particular territory.
He can sell contracts" or machines
anywher- in the United States, pro-
xided he pays the washing machine
people their share Of the money
taken in. There is SO much more
money in selling contracts" than in
selling machines, that no doubt most
Of those who buy CONTRACTS will
sell contracts" and not bother with