The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-16
STOCK SALESMEN
 ARE GETTING BUSY
Rx HOLLAND

New York, December l5.--(Special)-
 Here and there throughout the land, and
 especially in the farming district of the
 far west, well-trained travelling sales
 men who seek customers for corpora- tion stock are beginning an active cam paign. This is especially true of the agricultural regions of the far west. because so much money has been madi
 and so large have been the investments
 in Liberty Bonds that it is presumed
 to be possible to tempt those who have
 money bonds to buy various stocks. An estimate has been recently made that
 In the northwest at least $25, ,000, 900 have within a few months been paid for all kinds of securities, most of which are
 almost worthless and none of which fur nish any hope of profit or dividends
 The campaigner5 who seeks to persuade individuals to. buy stock is well trained. l His business has become highly special | ized. Training has gone so far that pro-
 motors first of all obtain legal advice; second they go so far as to establish
 training schools for. salesman wherein
 the salesman are taught how to put forth persuasive arguments which ap- pear plausible to an investor. The field into which these campaigns stock salesmen are sent is in charge of highly qualified expert manager Some times the statesmen operate in groups They divide up territory and proceed with rapidity and skill to approach and tempt all of the farmers and others who are colloquially called prospects Many seek employment of this kind because the ] pay is good. It is made to them in the l form of commissions. These are fre- 1 quently as high as 25 per cent and never 1 less than IS, while the percentage most l frequently allowed is 20. Remuneration | of this kind brings satisfactory returns | to the salesman For instance, if any salesman is allowed 25 per cent in the | form of commission then, even though | he sells only one share of the par value Of S100 in any one day, he would gain $25 as commission, or if his commissions were less he would certainly gain sl5 These earnings are probably easier to make than the men could obtain in any other kind of employment.
 SEEKING EASY MARKS
 Wonder is expressed by honorab ble and competent business men at the zeal With l which these salesmen pursue their queer vocation. They taught by their ex- pert managers that in the United States as we'll as in Canada never has there been time when the plain people had as much money as at present There fore it Is not difficult to persuade them to pay but some part of their money Tor stocks of manufacturing propositions or else to convert their Liberty Bonds nto securities of this kind
 SEEKING LIBERTY BONDS
 These campaigners prefer to receive liberty Bonds in payment for the shares hey sell to actual cash. For in addition o the profit to be made upon the sale # shares the Liberty Bonds are taken tt the Appreciated price below par in l he expectation that in due time the 'rice will advance Leading business nen and bankers of the west are now ooking to the capital issues committee T Washington which with its various ranches will be in authority for ali east six months after President Wilson | roclaims that the treaty of peace has cen signed. The capital issues commit ae will continue, therefore. to have su- ervision over all issues of securities Scept that it's authority does not ex- snd to issues of securities not exceeding 00, GOO.
 lntimations have been received by bank. IS and business men that the probabil- les are great that President Wilson will siegate to the treasury department new uthority whereby dealings in Liberty onds can be controlled. Every person
 the United States who possesses or ho hereafter will possess after the fifth lberty Loan has been. floated, a Liberty ond ought to know and should be taught at notwithstanding what the daily quo- tions in Liberty Bonds may be these e sure to fluctuate and will ultimately rtainly be valued in the market at par
 possibly even above par. Furthermore ere should be nationwide campaign
 another character from that which e peddlers of stocks or other securi- $ are now carrying on. For if there sufficient information given to the ople they will learn that it is not wise
 have any dealings with these stock mpaign sellers and never to buy stock
 securities unless they deal through nks and high grade investment houses ey should never part with their bonds.