The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1921-04-22
Beware Of Gold
Brick" Statesmen

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Notwithstanding the many warn
ings that have been sounded, BY the
press throughout the country, to be-
ware Of all stock statesmen Of every
description, IL appears thas there is
an ever ready increasing supply Of
such gentry. Therefore, the natural
deduction is steady, perhaps an in
creasing, demand for such useless
trash among that large percentage of
the people who are always on the
lookout to "get rich quick It would
seem that the people would "get wise'
to such bogus schemes, especially af4
ter they, or their neighbor, has been
left ''holding the bag" which has
been the case times without number,
in this as well as in every other com
munity.
The stock in trade Of these human
sharks is usually stocks. Of one kind
or another-at the present period
they are usually oil or mining and
The Times does not believe that it
exaggerates when it says that nine
ty-nine cases out Of every hundred
such so-called stocks are not worth
the paper on which they are printed,
or engraved, with all the fancy -four
ishes possible, it may be, which is all
carefully figured out in order to pry
loose the unwary from their good,
and often hard-earned, money.
Can you figure out the least human
feeling in the man who will fill his
pockets with such bogus paper, and
go out among those whom he has call
ed his friends and neighbors, with the
deliberate, cold-blooded intention of
selling" them such junk for real
money? Well, there are enough such
characters to fill every
need for gratifying of a much abused
and long-sufcring public. You should
not get the idea because you may have
looked on someone who may approach
you with some such proposition as
neighbor or friend, that therefore his
is what he may try and
make you believe it is. The chances
are that it is not a good proposition
are altogether overwhelming.
Should you view the proposition
from a well-rounded standpoint your
common sense would tell you that it
IS not often that peddlers would be
sent out to dispose of a really good
business proposition. There is al
ways plenty Of capital seeking such
Investment. The next time you are
by stock peddler Of any
description, The Times would suggest
It least one tow-line you might throw
nut, which may possibly entangle the |
.onspirator who is after your money,
hough this suggestion is in no man
Ter "fool-proof." Ask him to show |
'ou his license as a salesman of such |
took. The chances are largely in fa-
'or of his being uncble to do so. Yet |
he Missouri "Blue Sky Law" speci- |
ically provides that all such statesmen
must have such license, which they
must have constantly with them. If |
'our friend. the peddler, fails to show
uch license, then it is your duty, as
| good citizen, who is anxious to see
he law enforced, to report such case
o your Prosecuting Attorney.
The law provides a penalty for each |
uch offense of fine of from $100 to
5000, or by Imprisonment in the
ounty Jail for not more than ninety
lays, or both such fine and imprison-
nent. There are enough and to spare
f licensed public plundereps in this
'tate, which should be an additional
Incentive to give every one possible
he maximum punishment. The fell
DIV who objects to pay a dollar or two
or the privilege of going out to rob
nd pilfer his neighbors by selling"
hem bogus stock is entirely too small
D be accorded sucL a "nriviIiun -