The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1921-06-03
ASSERTIONS, NOT ANSWERS

1t is the Stars practice, when crit
cising men or institutions, to always
give said men or men representing
such institutions, space free to an
swer such criticisms. There are some
times reasons for making exceptions
to the rule, and one of these excep-
tons came up the other day.
As is well known, the Star has
severely denounced agents that have
been going thru this county selling
oil, automobile and other stock TO in
experienced people, a large number
of whom are now mourning for their
money. Having found that this coun-
ty is a good field, more OF the fakirs
are here, and so far the Star is the
only agency that has had any success
in baking their schemes.
The other day a couple of men call
ing themselves w. K. Smith and Geo.
w. Beach, and claiming to represent
the Jefferson Oil & Gas Company"
visited the Star Office and submitted
an article defending their company,
which the Star had never heard of,
let alone attacked. They seemed to
think the Star should recognize them
the same as it does men it has done
business with for years. They were
informed their article would be print
ed at regular advertising rates, and
from the alacrity with which they
handed over the money we suspect
they would have paid about three
times as much.
1t is not the Stars habit to argue
with its advertisers, and it doesn't
know and hasn't said that the "Jet
ferson Oil & Gas Company" is fake
but since the article is a direct attach
on the paper, and an attempt to prove
it untruthful, we will call attention tt
the faults of said article.
1t is, in the first place, nothing
more than the assertion of Messrs
Smith and Beach. 1t contains not /;
word of proof to the people of thi
section, nor, as far as we know, an,
other section. The permission of tn
state controller to sell stock is n
| &c aic l.1%xy 30 81
censes to people who come to him an
apply for said licenses. Of course, h
will refuse anything he knows to b
a fraud, but he has no way of judgin
one man or firm in one thousand. TIL
article claims that one of the bes
citizens of Florida has been sent t
Texas to examine the company
property, and that he found it a
right. Nobody here knows this mar
doesn't know whether he ever went t
Texas or not. Everybody knows thu
it is the easiest thing in the world
fake afidavits. Every well poste
man knows that thousands of peopl
have been swindled out of millions {
dollars for fake oil stocks in the la:
two years. No banker would lend
dollar on Smith and Beach's articl
No judge would admit it in court &
testimony. No banker nor well-poste
business man will advise you to bu
the stock.
A couple of weeks ago, a man can
in this office and exhibited an editic
de luxe of references. 1t was pc
fectly gorgeous in stationery al
binding. But the Star job Office cou
, turn out one just as good-looking al
without a word of truth in it. Ne.
day we found out this man belong,
to the bunch that had swindled 6
honest and hardworking woman out
four thousand dollars.
The other day, hardworking &C
ored man came in the Star Office al
: asked for advice. He had bong
, some stock from a concern; abo
sixty dollars worth. Only sixty d.
lars, but he did more honest work
earn that little amount than any we
dressed, slickfaced. oily-tongued f
kir ever did in his life And inste'
of some of the gorgeous returns
had been promised, he was told to p
up more money, or his stock wou
be no good. The Star could only t.
him he had bought sixty dolla
u worth of experience, which would
entirely wasted if he threw go
money after bad.
Now, we don't know that the Jeffe
son Oil & Gas Company is fake, a
= we haven't said it was a fake. 4
:. we know is that no reliable and pre-