The Farmington times., 1920-03-05

The entire country appears to be on
q rampage" for quick and easy mon
ley. Never before in history has there
been so many Suckers" ready to be
tapped by the "gold brick" artists
more correctly speaking, econ" men.
One principal reason for this is the
cheapness and abundance of money.
Many would-be Spectators, with
whom money has heretofore been a
rather scarce article, now finding
themselves with more cash on hand
than they have ever before been ac-
customed to, have apparently gone
mad in their efforts to secure much
larger sums from a minimum invest
ment. 1t is such men especially who
usually fall an easy prey to the "hur-
rahs" of the "con" men, when they
speak to them in glib tongues of the
| enormous profits that are awaiting
their investment.
If there was not formerly suffi-
cient number of "get rich quick"
schemers to look after the rapidly in
creasing supply of suckers" that have
recently been created, (Which We are
inclined to doubt,) the same condi-
tions that have added so largely to
the "sucker" list, has also brewed in
like measure the econ" men, so that
now the species are actively at work
in every nook and Granny of the land.
Many Of such gentry have their "line
of bull" thoroughly committed to men,
ory, so that if anyone will listen to
them sufficiently long the chances will
dangerously multiply for them "tak-
ing the cork under"
Perhaps the principal scheme work
ed by these "bunko steerers" is the
selling of oil stock. 1t is perfectly
safe assertion that in nine cases out of
every ten--perhaps in ninety-nine cas-
es in every hundred--the only value
that such stock possesses is the cost
of the paper on which such shares are
printed. And even that value has
been ruined before such paper is turn
ed over to the purchaser on account
of the printing on it. The facts are
that such icon" men are not paid for
travelling around in an effort to as
sist you in making quick money. All
they are after is YOUR money, and
when they once get it in their possess
sion the chances are perhaps a thou
sand-to-one that you will never see it
again. 1t is possible, however, that
you may get some of it back, proYid-
ing your friend, the econ" man, still
has his eye on you for more
thorough picking. In that case
there may be returned to you some
erich dividends" But in that case you
may expect, and will doubtless re-
ceive, ewes e.. heavier "touch."
1t seems increditable that any one
should be warned against anyone, and
especially a stranger, who pretends to
be trying to sell stock that will bring
their owners sure and enormous re-
turns. Such collateral is not peddled
in that manner. There is no need for
peddling such stock. Except in very
rare instances really worthwhile
stock is not peddled at all. Why
should it be? There is always an
abundance of money to be secured for
legitimate investment. Therefore, it
is usually safe plan to diagnose any
stock selling scheme, especially when
offered by strangers, as "con" game.
"Con" workers are usually people of
unusual shrewdness, whose entire
time is put in thinking up the most
plausible stories by which to separate
the public from its money.
These "get rich quick" schemers al
ways manage to have some particu-