New-York tribune., 1919-02-13
Cited in "Ad-Visor" Column

Cited in "Ad-Visor" Column
Twice before the issuance of fraud
order and the arrest of its president
and other officers the McAlester Real
Estate Exchange had come into hostile
contact with the government, which
many of its "customers" believed it
represented. Twice, also, it had been
cited for effrontery in The Tribune S
Advisor" column. And once it was
under the scrutiny of District Attorney
Swami, who suspected that its adver-
tisements might misead the unwary,
In 1915 its officers were tried and ac-
quilted in Oklahoma.
"The Advisor" called attention on
August IL, 1917, to the glitterlng prom
ises to be gathered by hasty glance at
the concerns advertisements and its
contracts and to the meagre results to
be obtained by a critical assay Of the
latter. 1t called attention to the ex-
change again April II, 1913, some three
weeks after fraud order had barred
the mails to the land locaters.
Shortly before the publication of the
first article District Attorney Swami
wrote to The Tribune for information
concerning the McAlester Real Estate
Exchange, as he considered its adver-
tsing methods deceptive, and was con-
uuCIlllS al lIVeSClSdilOll LII Matcn
1916, and in April, 1917, the officers of
tai authorities to show cause why a
fraud order should not be issued
Promised to Mend Ways
At neither time was such an order
issued W. II. Lamar, solicitor for the
Post Office Department, explained in
his memorandum of March, 1918, in
|, al, i
a fraud order, that at the previous in
terviews officers Of the exchange had
promised to mend their ways They
had promised, he said, to discharge
employees making fraudulent represen-
tations and to adjust complaints from
"custOm ers.'
In view of this and of the fact that
the issuance of fraud order might
prevent many persons from getting
their money back, action was post
poned.
The reparation expected by the gov
ernment was not made, Mr.. Lamar
said in asking for fraud order in
1913. The company continued to send
out special Pullman cars placarded
with announcements concerning the
sale of the tribal lands of the Chick
asaws and Choctaws. 1t continued to
for individuals at the rate of $135 per
individual.
And the individuals continued to en-
ter into the $135 contracts. which, in
the opinion of the government, were so
worded as to convey, The impression
that in paying for the locating and
bidding the "party of the second part"
also was making payment on the
land and was encouraged in the belief
that his land would be i'll the midst of
oil and other mineral products and
timber.
Sent Out Special Cars
Eight or ten special cars were kent
on the go by the exchange. In April,
1917, Van Tress, the pres dent of the
exchange had talk with Solicitor
Lamar. At that time the date for the
next sale of Indian lands had not been
decided, though it was thought it would
come in the fall. Only 5000 tracts
were to be open to location and Van
Tress, according to Mr. Lamars mem
oranduni, admitted that his concern
had obtained contracts from 5000 per
sons for that land.
Van Tress added, according to Mr.
Lamar, that his cars would continue
making the rounds of the country until
he had at least 5000 contracts, as q
considerable part of the profit came
from customers who allowed their con-
tracts to lapse. At that time, accord
ing to the solicitor Van Tress de-
clared that if he could not buy land
at the time of the sale for all pur-
chasers who had kept their side of the
contract he would refund their money