Greenwood daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1919-1926, 1920-03-02
INGENIOUS Use
OF ADVERTISING
Schemes By Get Rich Quick" Men
Are Being Run Down By Nat
iOnal Vigilance Committee.
Associated Press

NEW YORK, March 2-Ingenious
use of advertising schemes by "get-
rich-quick" men are being run down
by the National Vigilance Committee
of the Associated Advertising Clubs
of the World, which keeps corps of
men at this work almost constantly.
Richard H. Lee, special counsel of the
committee, who supervises the work,
tells many stories of confidence men
and the methods used to combat and
convict them.
One man, he says, formed a league
of automobile users. The league is
sued a price list of accessories, all
quoted less than possible for the man.
ufacturers to make them. When
member ordered an article, another
was substituted and a circular letter
explained that because of the great
demand, the factory was behind in its
orders. In some cases the substitu-
tion was attributed to the rareness of
the object desired. The substitute
was cheap affair, made for the head
of the league, but the member was
satisfied, temporarily at least, by the
explanation that. while it's price was
higher, than that ordered, the league
would sell it to him for the same sum.
This man built up a good reputa-
ton by means of 'preferred" custom
ers, whom Mr.. Lee describes as
plants who innocently furthered the
designs of the swindler. A group of
these men was established in each
town where the league did business.
AS an illustration, Mr.. Lee cites
the case of one of the most promin-
ent surgeons in an Ohio city, who was
persuaded to join the league. He
bought a tire, which an agent OBJ
tanned from a local dealer at the US
ual retail price, and then held until
the proper time had elapsed for ship
ment from headquarters. The doctor
was delighted. In few days the
agent dropped around to see him and
asked how the tire was. holding up.
On inspection the agent found an i'm
aginary flaw, and insisted upon re-
placing the tire with new one-also
bought at the usual retail price. He
left the supposedly defective tire, say
ing that the doctor could use it as a
"spare," and refused further payment.
'Tf you really feel so grateful, doc
tor" he said, write the Old Man let
ter about it and tell him how you
feel"
The letter was used for advertising
purposes.
Not one, but many companies
brought suit against the league, with
out success, for the defendant would
put his "preferred' customers, all
men of unquestioned reputation, on
the stand, and the case would be dis
missed.
This man reduced circular letter
writing to a science. He dictated a
set of circular letters answering ev-
ery conceivable sort of question per-
tanning to his business, indexed them
and then dismissed the greater part
of his clerical force.
Mr.. Lee told one amusing result. A
customer complained that a drip par
was missing from a shipment. The
inexperienced girl who answered the
complaint looked up goods" in the
index and followed it down until she
found the word 'lost." She then sent
out circular letter saying that the
league always took the greatest care
to see that there was no shortage II
shipments, and if the consignee
'would shake up the excelsior in the
bottom of the box" he undoubtedly
would find the missing object.
After a years fight, the Vigilance
Committee obtained conviction, ane
sent the head of the league to prison
Another man formed company os
tensibly to build tractors, using the
name Ford, for Henry Ford was al
that time said to be contemplating
marketing a tractor. The swindle1
O1ckoO up tS1SpHOHC OOoNS LON NOs'A
the list of Fords until he found ma
chinest. He called on this man ant
told him that he had been highly rec
commended and that he wanted him t.
superintend the construction of th'
first machine. The machinest had al
easy time at high pay for fev
weeks, dropping in on the head of tn
company to make suggestions once II
a while. The the first tractor wa
nearing completion, the swindler toll
him that his work had been so val
liable that it had been decided to nam
the machine for him, and got him t
sign a paper permitting this use
When this paper was signed, ne to
disappeared from the payroll, and tn
stock selling began. The Viglianc
Committee also obtained the convic
tion of this man.
Another bogus company, formed
Akron, in the heart of the tire indus
try. sold III. stock TO people IN tha
city. through the power Of advertisin
sil}hon6h any dne ef the purchaser
s. 9 f....,aa hava aneerknined that the claim