The L'Anse sentinel., 1908-02-22
WolDes That Prey on Women
Chicago Social Settlement Worker Tels How the Wireless
Telegraph, the "Work Home" and Other Frauds Are
Employed to Fleece Poor Housewives and Girls.
By MISS JANE ADDAMS
OF Hull House, Chicago.

One Of the Inevitable results of the
financial independence of wage earn
Ing women is q corresponding inde-
pendence in the matter Of seeking in
vestments. Women who have secured
their money without masculine aid
naturally feel at liberty to invest It
without masculine advice. Before pro-
ceeding upon this natural theory, how
ever, women should be equipped with
knowledge of the fact that the pro-
moters OF fake Investments have come
to regard women as.one of their most
profitable specialties, and that the art
OF fleeing them has been cultivated
with the greatest care. Experience
has taught INSCRIPTIONS promoters"
that 1t is easier to secure money from
women than from men through at least
two lines Of appeal to which women
are more susceptible than men. The
first of these is the appeal to wage
earning women as business women"
and the fiattering' Inference that as
such they will recognize the oppor-
tunity for a good Investment, quite
ignoring the fact that much of wage
earning is done under direction and
does not OF necessity imply knowledge
of business affairs. The second line
Of appeal which tempts many women.
to go into fake deals is that made to
feminine vanity by the promoters of
the scheme who urge: I'VE believe in
the intuition of women and would
rather have It In the counsels OF our
enterprise than cold masculine logic;
combination Of both is the ideal, and
that Is why we are asking you to give
us your aid and cooperation"
The idea of connection with a big
enterprise is, in very many instances,
nattering to the woman who has never
before had such an opportunity, and,
moreover, many women have come to
believe that optimism is in itself
sort OF feminine virtue, while on the
other hand they regard suspicion as
most unworthy trait. Intuition" con-
sists Of faith in favorable outcome.
Hundreds of women are entrapped
every year through some such subtle
and flattering form of appeal.
Very often these campaigns for the
savings of women are conducted along
the lines of the professions and occu-
pations in which large numbers OF
fairly prosperous women are naturally
engaged. The first thing which the
woman who Is solicited to invest her
savings In the stock or bonds of min
Ing, plantation, oil or financial enter
prise should bear In mind is the fact
that in all probability the promoter
who is talking to her has secured
list OF the women belonging to profess
sional organization or club with which
she is associated, and II the wom-
an thus appealed to merely communi-
Gated with her natural associates she
could easily discover this for herself.
But the whole affair is purposely sur
rounded by. an air Of mystery and "A
special opportunity for you." which
keeps her silent.
The wireless telegraphy scheme
which was worked in Chicago several
years ago will illustrate this: When
wireless telegraphy was first demon
strated to be practical in its operation
the swindlers saw fresh and fascinat-
ing field in its manipulation. 1t had
the charm of science about 1t and ap-
pealed to the progressive mind inter
esred In the onward march OF civii-
cation" An once was located con-
venient to the rooms of the board OF
education, which contained wireless
demonstration apparatus" q full
equipment of wireless literature. and
most important of ala list OF all
the school teachers Of the city. The
women teachers received q broadside
of literature in which handsome divi-
dends were promised from an invest
ment In the greatest scientific discov.
cry of the age, and also an implication
that the stock was offered first to edu-
cational people who were best fitted to
understand its value and who would
have sentimental as we'll as material
satisfaction from such an investment.
When an abundant harvest had been
garnered. from the savings of women
teachers, series of maneuvers was
instigated which left undistributed In
the possession OF the promoter Of the
scheme the thousands Of dollars he
had acquired. The teachers received
q confidential and important an
nouncement from his ONCE to the ef-
feet the most powerful rival In the
immediate field Of his company's oper-
ations had consented to conselida-
ton ON terms which he regarded as
highly advantageous to sall his invest
ors. The consolidated company would
be 80 much stronger than. the one In
which they had made their Investment
that they could not, of course. expect
to exchange the stock on an even
basis, share for share. He advised
them. however, to, increase their In
yestment 90 that they could still retain
their original number Of shares which 1
would not fail I'd prove immensely
profitable.
This appeal not only induced many
Of the original investors to put in addi-
tional money. but It also brought
fresh volume Of recruits. A little while
later second reorganization was an
nounced-- this. time Z consolidation
with an of the principal wireless coui-
panies then in the field. It was ex-
n "a