El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-02-07
FAKE CONTESTS
FOR CIRCULATION
Continued From Page II


you must have some girl turn in a
list of names to correspond with the
That was easy. for the auto man
had a sister living in a nearby town
She entered as a candidate. the $500
went to her credit, and the automobile
man got a $1,000 car at a cut price
If the other candidates suspected any
thing, it was too late-their work had
been wasted
know Of another promoter in Texas
who hunted up discouraged contest
ant and offered her SO Tor her chance.
The young woman was out of the race
and gladly accepted the offer Then
her vote mounted UP myster1Ously- The
grand priZe-and as her chance was
held by the promoter no prize award
was needed.
Contests @On the Sauare.g
have been asked at least a hun
dred times. DO You know Of any
newspaper that has conducted voting
contest OH the square,
Yes, but it was not a financial sue
cess Tor the newspaper j know or
one daily newspaper that offered sew
eral dig prizes and showed It's good
faith by placing enough money in es-
crow TO cover the actual cost Of the
various prizes. The votes were counted
every day and the standing Of each
contestant published in the paper daily
up to within three weeks Of the close
of the contest At this the the ballot
box was taken over 10 the leading
hotel Of the town and the key OF the
DOX turned over to the mayor the box
remaining locked until the close Of
the contest when the Judges ODened
the box to count the votes After the
votes were counted the winners were
announced When the actual cash was
counted by the management Of the
newspaper, the figures showed that
there was only just enough money
taken in to pay for the prizes and the
extra expenses for help during the
campaign Nothing was left for the
newspaper or the promoter
INC Haaa# b. Gel e.
to prove a big loss TO the newspaper.
II is q truism among promoters that
voting contests must be crooked to
insure prO1lt TO the contest manager
and the newspaper Since this became
apparent the newspapers that depend
upon contests have grewn few in num-
bers-
Accusing OF False Hopes.
A voting contest depends almost
wholly upon the arousing OF false
hopes Even the most honest Of con-
test managers viii admit this TO be a
fact No matter how careful the news
paper management this evil cannot be
The men connected with the voting
contests are usually good looking and
smooth Of tongue When they are
looking for young women prospects
they usually succeed. as these contest
men are known as the worlds greatest
hot air dispensers, and they would
have no trouble in convincing the
young women that the moon was made
Of green cheese
AFTER the E4E4S start LlelE campaign
for subscriptions the contest manager
gives each contestant a little cOnfiden-
Uial talk something like this, or a little
stronger
You are a real wonder. You have
all the other contestants guessing
They claim you are the most popular
girl in town believe you are going
to win, but YOU must get your friends
lined up to come out and put up some
real money.
@Sure to Wins All Of You
q n cal
sure that I VIII win the grand prize2n
It's a sure thing 7 never saw such
a bunch Of dead ones in all nv life
as we have in this contest You are the
only live one in the bunch and If you
will get $500 more business before the
end Of the month you viii win hands
down"
When the contest closes, who is an
nounced as winner TIE girl whose
father or brother bought the car for
a lump sum OF money, or the contest
ant who sold her chance to the contest
manager for a small sum. or the girl
who came from a nearby town to en-
ter the contest being paid a fixed
sum for her work. or the girl who
accepted a small sum Of money instead
Of the car and who made this agree
ment when the contest first started.
The hard-WOrking contestant who real-
" won the grand prize by turning in
the most money in subscriptions gets
one OF the smaller prizes