New-York tribune., 1918-08-19
Playing New Game on the
Assumption "Sucker Is
Born Every Minute"
u. S. Mails Used,
1t Is Asserted
New Investigation Said to
Have Been Started by
Federal Agents


the District Attorneys Office and the
Liberty Loan Committee took joint &C
ticn against these offensive spectators,
and under threat of prosecution the
sharks withdrew their advertisements
from the papers which accepted their
paid publicity and closed shop.
As might have been expected, the
sharks nave come to the surface once
more.
This time they are playing a new
game, a game played on the assump-
ton that there is a sucker born every
minute, that there are q lot of grown-up
suckers in the country at present and
that hundreds of thousands OF them are
the proud possessors of Liberty bonds.
Last spring the sharks got into trouble
because they advertised in the public
press. This time they are taking a
more stealthy, but at the same time
more dangerous, course. They are ply
ing their sordid trade under the cover
of sealed envelopes sent through the
United States mails.
Liberty Bonds for "Gold Bricks
Such risky business demands big
returns. Consequently the new crop OF
Liberty Loan sharks are not Offering a
cent OF money for the gilt-edged bonds
Neither are they openly soliciting
bonds in the food OF letters which
they arc sending through the mails.
They are merely telling their prospec-
tive patrons of alluring oil and mining
finds inviting them to invest in oil
and mining stocks and bonds and mere
Liberty bonds will be accepted at par
in lieu of cash.
The sharks are "patriotic." They re-
fuse TO discount Liberty bonds. They
are willing 20 accept them at higher
rates than are paid on the Stock Ex-
change provided their correspondent is
willing 20 accept for them scraps of
engraved paper which in most cases
is worthless.
Investigate 2icker's Company
Among the many oil and mining vent
ures which the government agents
here are Investigating in connection
with Liberty bond trading is the Dixie
Kentucky OIL Company, fathered by A.
". Kicker, publisher Of "Pearson's
Magazine" The corporation was in
eorporated under the laws OF the State
Of Delaware, July 6, 1918. and was
capitalized for S1,00O,OO0 The COM
pany, according 20 Mr.. Kicker. has sold
ne stock. 1t is the bond selling vent
ure OF the Dixie kentucky Oil Com
pany which interests the postoffice in
spectors.
Kicker was formerly associated with
The Appeal to Reason" a Socialist
paper OF wide circulation. He has also
been one OF the owners OF the Kicker
News Company, which circulated
"Pearson's Magazine" "The Masses" >"
suppressed by the government for Sc
magazine, devoted solely to malignine
England and interfering with our
prosecution OF the war
according 10 prospectuses sent out
oy the company. Colonel j. A. Robert
son, manufacturers and capitalist, is
president of the Dixie Kentucky Gil
company; Allen W. Kicker, publisher
OF "Pearsons Magazine" and presi-
dent Of Pearson's Magazine. Inc, is
treasurer, and Lucien S. McCombs,
secretary
,lonery with "Pearson's Magazine" let
'erneads, Mr.. Kicker invites the friends
oi the publication to invest in per
cent bonds Of the Dixie Kentucky Oil
company. He announced that the
slock is not for sale, but that "for
very dollar that YOU invest in bonds
VIII give you two dollars of stock"
~ one OF his prospectuses, wherein
ne, ne describes the property of The Dixie
VII Company, Mr.. Kicker states:
Offers to Accept Liberty Bonds
III you nave Liberty bonds we will
axe them in exchange for bonds, so
Mat YOU need invest no money which
YOU wish to use TO help the COVE rnmcnt
ohancc the var"
mere is an application blank at
vi company mailed to the subscribers
duced: '~'
a; W. Kicker "a Union Square. New
York City.
NJ. ! hereby agree to buy ... bond, Of the
81 %~,s Kentucky Oil Company. each bond
oi the denomination OF ten dollars. the
s'ai amounting 10 $...... I will have
ne =. money in your office on or before July
-. -. Nls. 1t is agreed that I am to have
c.sss are, Of stock in the Dixie Kentucky Oil
WY 'or each dollar invested in bonds
H'e. -..........-. ..........
"aafcss ....--.............-.
City ........... STATE .....
-
ran ran@ vii loan the bonds at very nearly
, or ~e can apply tho bond on purchase
me ~, o. property.
0, - you want TO exchange Liberty bonds
- savings stamps for our bonds please
'sE G fact here:
snd as, aave 3 ..... Liberty bonds or stamps
- Nhi exchange for 3 per cent bonds of
o1.e Kentucky OIL Company
~ ~ Kicker then explains that he
~ eh1s matter before Colonel J. A.
bo,ass"n. the largest single stock
gr . "Peareon's," born near the
d,,sIssucky boarder (sic) and knows the
U.s declares he investigated
e''sed the deal for two reasons:
.-. hts~ am convinced that the prop
~ million dollars
,S2ee'nd Nearly 1000 people arc stock
yo, III FearDon's Magazine" Mott OF
"SFe Invested your money, / believe
for 81 o' the confidence in and estecm
ayt, ' people who managing the ma2-
sneat want N gafeZuard this invest
- IN Fsnxson's. be IL ever 20 small.
nisLai ~Ant N fec anybody lose even IA
si,vs also want tn keep the magazine
sb,e aor after the IL will be 81 vnl,.-
ineov,D D'"pert5 The oil viii furnish an
"m.'.wh y',.r whch viii help Us ali immensely
!. b,.fnsaA eosts and rcreased postage
Hsh"'S'nx min " the New York pub
f,.,n ~ The war Hots into next year
ns.s s"hH-nhlf to two-thrds of all th-
Tn.. t'.s In Eew York viii cease u, BE-.
h<esn..A" h"s BE- "a calamity 70 the public,
psyts.S. ""st Of these magazines are
mslls am are simply burdens in the
pa<r.gs W - 'pesrson's.' NTH it's seroo.
~p@s, 'Feayson,x. i~~~~.~s 81 H.