Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-03-11

Editor Kennebec journal,
Augusta, Maine.
Dear Sir:
The citizens of Lewiston have been
victimized again by fake advertising.
This happens continually. only it is
very seldom that the parties are ap-
| pretended.
| / am taking the liberty of sending
/ to you copy of the letter which we
/ sent out to our members, trusting
! that some of this information might
! be useful and worth publishing. A
warning might be sounded in regard
| to the particular case which we have
cited in our letter, as undoubtedly he
/ win be around trying to collect
money in your city.
Very truly yours.
ROGER A. GREENE,
Manager.
| FAKE, ADVERTISEMENT mem
| bers of the Chamber of Commerce are
warned again against solicitors for
! fake advertising and fake charitable
I, organizations.
/ The Chamber of Commerce devotes
Q department exclusively to the pro-
lection of advertisers and provides a
permit for solicitors of legitimate adj
vertsins. There is also the project
| labelled as advertising which, many
times, has no advertising value, and
is, in fact, a gift of money under the
guise of advertising. Many institu-
tons of quasi public status are al
most criminal in their c0relessness in
| hni "a,
solicitors. In some cases the percent
age of revenue received by the insti-
tuition whose name has been used is
less than 2OIo.
If members of the Chamber of
/ Commerce would insist on q solicitor
for advertising or charity. displaying
his permit from the Chamber, he
would be practically protecfed. Per-
mlts arc given only after the most
rigid investigation of the conditions;
in fact, only four permits have been
given over a period of twelve months
| 1t generally works out, in cases
| such as came to the public notice a
few days ago, that considerable dam
age has been done and money collect
ed before the Chamber has q chance
| to put into operation its facilities for
| checking such activity. If you have
any doubt about either the person
who asks you to advertise, except, of
course, in the regular established
/ publications such as newspapers, etc.
| or his project, call this office. This
protects, not only yourself, but 9TH
| ers.
| IF ,at{
! turned out to be fakes nave been eX-
posed within the last few days. A
! solicitor alleging to represent n GER
| tain organization was presenting
forged credentials, it was found upon
! investigation. Another man solicit
| ing gave unauthorized references
| The Police Department, upon infor-
nation furnished by the Chamber of
| Commerce, recently halted the ad-
ventures of Mr.. Golf who was doing
quite a fourishing business.
| He represented himself az the
! agent of John J. Flaherty of Portland
/ who was authorized hy the Maine
State Sealers Association to sell the
advertising for the 1922 Year Book
! This is an example, by the way, of
ting solicitors to impose on the pub
lie, for the Association would receive
only $780, while the solicitors had the
opportunity to make $4,000 or $4,000.
Golf did not even stick to this prop
oSitiOn. He came to the prospect
with list of signatures purportinS
to dc a contract for advertising in
the Year Book. He wculd then pro-
duce last years alleged bulletin of
! the State Sealers Association and say
that he was collecting for an advor-
tisement in that book. He would
point out an alleged advertisement
| and be ready to give a receipt for the
State Sealers Association, as soon as
he could collect the money. In some
instances he had genuine signatures,
but it developed that these were CIV
en- for another project.
Had the first member of the Cham
Der of Commerce whom this man Wis
tied demanded to see the Chamber
permit or had even called this office,
other members could have been inn
mediately notified and measur TAX
en- to prevent his fleeing the public
This is only one of many cases Of
pleasing young men with plausible
stories. In protection to yourself and
the other fellow. demand to see the
advertising permit. and If one is not
displayed and you do not know the
solicitor or the cause itself, call this
Office Immediately.