New-York tribune., 1921-12-04
Luck Contests
Ruled Out of
Luck by Hays
Drawings Suspended Here
by The Daily News and
American on Request
of Postmaster General
Prompt Action Is Taken
No Papers Containing Num-
bers Involved We're Sent
Through Mails, 1t Is Said

Lucky number" contests conducted
by two New York newspapers, "The
American" and "The Daily News" are
scheduled for an untmely demise, it
became known last night. when Mr..
Hearst's American" published in it's
first edition telegram from Will H.
Hays, Postmaster General, requesting
that the contests be stopped.
81 very earnestly request" said the
telegram to Hearst, "that you consider
the advisability of discontinuing the
contests now being conducted in sew
eral Of your newspapers am max
ing the same request of the publishers
of The Chicago Tribune and The
New York Daily News and l will very
much appreciate it if you will CO.
operate with me'
Hearst Glad to Comply
Mr.. Hearst telegraphed in reply that
he was glad to comply with the
request, "if the interest in the contests
is such as to inconvenience the Post
Office Department"
So far as could be learned last night,
no issues of the newspapers containing
the "lucky numbers" have been sent
through the mails from New York
City. An official of the old postoffice
in Park Row, where the majority of
newspaper mail is handled, said that so
far as ne knew none had even been
offered for mailing.
Merton E. Burke, managing editor
of "The Daily News" said that "The
News" had received similar telegram
and would put stop to it's contest
after to-day's drawing, as "The Ameri-
can" announced it would do.
"As far as THE News is concerned" !"
he said, "Im glad of the Postmaster
Generals request. The contest, pure
forced on The News by THE Ameri-
cam We thought if one paper was
doing it that it would be proper for
another, and adopted it purely as a
defensive measure"
Competition in Contests
The contest, along the lines of an
ill-fated similar attempt of several
years ago by "The Evening Mail"
initiated by "The American" which
announced originally that $4,000
would would be distributed to holders
of coupons bearing numbers CORE
spending to those drawn each day by
city officials and other prominent New
Workers..
Mayor Hylan drew one set of num-
bers.
When "The News" announced an
identical contest "The American
jumped its awards by degrees until it
was said that total of 100000 would
be given away. This led "The News, ,
which had appropriated mere $4,000
to announce that it had million tc
back it's fight and that all of it, il
necessary, would be given away.
Though it was stipulated that cou.
pons were to be given gratis to all who
asked for them, thousands were placed
in the hands of newsboys who refused
to give up coupon unless a paper
was purchased with it. Thousands
were distributed by chain cigar and
drug stores.
CHICAGO, Dec. 3-In accordance with
requests made to-day bv Postmaster
General Hays and by United States
District Attorney Clyne to various
newspapers conducting Christmas prize
drawings and contests, "The Chicago
Tribune" announces that it's Cheer
Check contest is at an end.
The discontinuance is immediate
No further drawings will be held. AT
the same time "The Tribune" an
nounces that the winners in the draw
ings thus far held, including the
drawing for the big Sunday prize con
Quoted to-day, will all be paid as an
nounced.