Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-02-25


blooded sagacity, is one of the SIM
plest, meekest and most gullible of towns.
For all it's bland airs of sophistication, it is
as easily impressed by display as any savage
chieftain, and it is constantly failing" for
all sorts of hokus-pokus that would scarcely
deceive a child.
It is estimated that 40 per cent of all the
questionable stock fioated in this country
during the past five years has been pur-
chased by New Workers. 1t is well known
that they contribute more every year to fake
charities than the citizens of any other
metropolis; that they support the most ex-
tensive army of frauds and beggars, and
that they pay the highest prices for the
most abominable service.
The New Yorker likes to boast about his
city's superior cultural advantages, but he
carefully ignores all disparaging features.
Thus, he fails to tell you how he rides back
and forth to work like packed sardine in
order to help the transit companies econo-
mize on trains; or how his children are get
ting only three hours schooling daily be-
cause there is not sufficient space in the
schools to accommodate them for full time.
He makes no mention of the battered condi-
ton of the pavements or of the large black
rivers that flow down the cutters in inclem-
ent weather and render the street cross
ings uncrossable, even with the condescend-
ing permission of policeman. Presumably,
the upkeep of these things, but he does not
seem to mind if they are neglected.
''New York needs a Declaration of indie
pendenCe," said an indignant property
owner recently, "but it never will be de-
cared. It's too good-natured. And to think
that in the Middle West where come from
they call this a, hard town! They ought to
live in it for awhile. Why, it's the easiest
town on earth. 1t will submit to every i'm
position that's foisted upon it, and smile
encouragingly at its oppressors."
Bucket Shops and Boobs
It is here in this wise and worldly Dor
ough Of Manhattan that the bucket shop
fourishes, annually robbing the public of
millions. 1t is here that the fake promoter
receives the most cordial welcome During
the war this was especially marked, and a
great revival of stock fotations occurred in
which, according to one financial expert,
gopher holes in the west were capitalized
as oil wells and name on map became a
shipyard!" The results of these gorgeous
but fictitious wartime enterprises are now
beginning to appear in the wholesale col
lapse of bucket shops in Wall street and in
the great flood of complaints that is sweep
ing into the New York district attorney S
office.
The New Yorker likes to pretend that
while plenty of wolves may exist IN New
York, the sheep upon which they prey all
Battery. But the police records show that
the largest sheepfold is right here within
the city's boundaries and contains many
persons who are themselves supposed to
possess unusual business ability.
"Only the other day." declared a police
official "we had the case of prosperous
business man who bought the Grand Central
Terminal from clever promoter. Honest!
The guy owns three restaurants here and
he's lived in New York for over ten years,
but that didn't help him. He paid $1,34O
for the Terminal"
Paradise of Panhandlers
While beggars have always reaped rich
harvest it took the war and the war drive
to accustom New Workers to solicitations for
funds on every street corner. During the
whole length of the war, New York never
had any difficulty in going over the top with
it's contributions, whether the campaign hap
pened to be a legitimate one or not. I'm
doubtedly, the majority of them were, but
they brought in their wake the inevitable
host of swindlers. For awhile, anybody with
fictitious business card a guarded money
box and pathetic plea for the sarving Pata-
gonians or Persans could raise enough
money to keep himself in luxury for
couple of years. Even today, these I'M
official appeals are often successful.
The other night, for example, tall,
broad-shouldered figure in amazing feminine
garb appeared in Elevated waiting room
with a small photograph, and placed it on
the floor. In a few minutes the waiting
passengers were listening to a jazz record
and at the same time to appeal for starv-
ing babies. The solicitor was dressed in