New-York tribune., 1918-07-23
Offer of SIS a Hundr.d |
Rejected by Men A,k.a
to Get Signature.
Much Postage Waste
S. J. Beckerrnan Admit. u.
Ran Into Snag When n.
Worked for Pu5lisher

Simeon j. Beckerman is a ps,.,.,
in the Elgin Jewelry COMPANY II
lib Canal street. His motto i, 3v..s
spurn a useful dollar" and in co,..r
ance with this creed he has deyel,..,
in recent years eide line of Collect.
attested signatures to the de.vr..;-s
petitions of any candidate for rr,n'
Office who is prepared TO pay from 60.
a hundred names up to a. mn,h :.
they can be persuaded the ssr;..
is worth.
Beckerman's stock in trade :, J..
affiliation with a string Of no,s,..
public, justices of the peace and eon
missioners of deeds scattered over -.
state.
Recently Beckerman contracted vi.,
some unidentified persons to oht,;,
5000 or more names to the peti.io,,
of William Randolph Hearst as a can.
didate for Governor. After getting :.
supply of blank petitions bearDs
Hearst's name Mr.. Beckerman sem.
out to his associates among the no..
taries this letter:
"Dear Sir:
Il am inclosing herewith five nes.
ton blanks for the nomination Of Hor.
William Randolph Hearst as candi.
date for Governor of this state.
"I would appreciate to have Won en-.
proach enrolled Democratic voters /,
your county and have them sign this
petition and when fifty names are com.
pleted you will please send same ia
ME ty return mail before July 2Sts
and I will pay you the sum Of sT.Sl
for your services rendered
you will please understand that tn,
work you perform is to be done on
/ strictly non-rartisan base, disregard
ing your politics, and your only in
terest in this matter will be to receY
such compensation for work performed
II have some other candidates whc
will send you upon completion .
this work.
please acknowledge receipt of th
letter at once if you are able to unde,
take this work, and if you know of an
other notarles or commissioner {
deeds who could be of any assistance
me l would be pleased to have 70
send re their names.
"Thanking you in advance, l beg F.
remain
yours very truly,
"SIMEON J. BECKERMAy'
A few days afterward Mr.. Becker
mans mail was crowded with envelope
containing the blank petitions. Hi
notary ryhenchmen were turning hin
down. He got some signatures, but
6istressingly few,
Hearst Money Rejected
Not all the petitions were returned
One set was sent to The New Yor,
Tribune and the notary to whom Nj
Beckerman has sent them inclosed thi
letter:
What do you think of the incloss,
letter offering $3.50 to get names fo
Hearst petitions for Governor?
81 would not get him one name 70
all the money he has got.'
And there you are. The whole busi
ness was SO discouraging that Nj
Beckerman dismissed his working fore
Saturday night. Yesterday he per
spired freely as he wondered in hi
East Side shop if he would be able II
collect for the few signatures he ha
obtained.
Hearst "Picks' Committee
"No, can't reveal the name Of tn
client who employed me to get name'
to the Hearst petitions, but don'
mind saying l don't expect to get anI
more," he said, sadly.
On the printed petitions, beneath
Hearst's name, are printed the name
Of three men whom the prospectiy'
signer is expected 10 approve as mem
bers of committee TO fill vacancies
"in accordance with provisions OF tn
election law" These are the fortunaa
ones:
Nathan Straus, Dr. Eugene E. DOos
ing, of Syracuse, and Thomas
} O'Connor. of Buffalo.