Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1911-07-12


Agents Who Thought They Were
Getting a Good Job-Paid For "Out.
fit
There Is an old saying to the effect
that "a sucker Is born every minute"
Many shrewd men nre aware of the
truth OF this statement. and some of
them devise schemes to take advan-
tage OF the fact. BY clever advertis-
ing methods they sometimes build up
fortunes by plucking the suckers.
A case in point is that of n Chicago
mail order concern which the United
States government recently began
prosecuting on the allegation that II
had misused the mails. This estab-
lishment, which began business about
a dozen years ago in sman one room
office, but now owns business blocks.
sent through the mails for years to
lists OF persons in small towns and
country places postcard offers so allur-
ing that many Of the unwary ones bit
and were bitten In turn. The post
cards read something like this:
Dear Strive wish to employ an adver-
Using manager in your locality TO dis
tribute circulars, catalogues. etc. Your
name having been given us as a suitable
person. We write to inquire II you are at
liberty TO consider IN ofrer OF $50 per
month and expenses. subject TO certain
reasonable requirements which We Will
explain upon hearing from YOU II you
cannot give your entire time we can offer
you $40 for distributing. etc. which can
be done I'm spare hours. In either case
please write us promptly for particulars.
We are a mail order catalogue house.
selling everything. established twelve
years. and write you because We believe
you are a suitable person for the position.
No previous experience required.
Previous experience" OF course.
would put upon his guard any person
ambitious 10 become advertising
manager" In his locality. 1t was only
those who had had no previous ex-
perIence with such bait who bit at
the bait and got the hook. The plan
Of this concern was TO have its local
agents sell books emitting the holder
to buy various kinds OF goods at sup
posedly wholesale prices. The con-
Germ charged applicants for the posi-
ton" $3.50 for an outfit" upon which
1t made n profit OF more than 100 per
cent. Then all the agent had To do.
besides distributing circulars. etc. was
to sell the membership book TO his
neighbors at $3.50 per. II he could
induce people 10 believe that they
were getting the wholesale price privi-
lege for $2.50-and plenty of people
are willing 10 bite eagerly ut such
bait-be got some sort OF commission
for his work. II is alleged that the
house was ahead OF the game right
from the start. 1t issued a large cata-
logue. similar to those put out by the
regular mail order concerns. with
prices Just as attractive. II not more So
1t Is charged that customers OF this
concern were in various ways defrau I'D
ed; that goods sent out were not al
ways up to representation made. and
upon this condition is based the prose
cution OF the government.
| This concern succeeded In getting
hundreds and hundreds Of agents in
each state OF the Union. Its literature
sent out to the prospective agent Is
alluriDg In every way. Promises held
out OF means Of earning large commits
sions and contracts were so worded a,
to leave no recourse for the agent IL
fact. no was to earn his salary prom
ised, and 1t would require hustler
indeed who could win on the plar
outlined by the association. During
the dozen years this concern has beer
going on IL is strange that its peculiar
operations have not until now been oh
served by the postal authorities.
1t is very difficult for the government
to convict in cases Of this kind. the de
PENDANTS usually getting free on tn
pretext that they had no intent to de
fraud. The local agent and outfit
business has been overworked In thi
country for great many years. and 1
would seem that by now the peopl
should beware OF such offers. but tn
old saying about the sucker born ever
minute still holds good. Citizens VIII
have the welfare Of their communit
and neighbors at heart ought to dis
courage such schemes and point on
to the local agents the fake feature O
the plan. Local merchants also woui
do well to cooperate with the oppt
nents Of such schemes.
]. NJ. OSBORN.
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