The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1922-01-20
WATCH YOUR STEP.

The following editorial is taken
from The Publishers Auxiliary, q
Western Newspaper Union publica-
tion, and gives information that is
really new to the general public, as
we'll as to a good many publishers
and postmasters:-
Exchanges coming to The Auxiliary
! desk from week to week reveal an as
| tonishing ignorance or disregard of
| postal regulations on the part of
newspaper publishers and indicate
that postmasters, also, are not
familiar with the classes Of unmail-
able matter as defined in the Postal
Laws and Regulations.
1t seems that news concerning the
awarding of monographs, iewelry,
automobiles and the like is published
in lust as much detail and as promi-
emily as other news Of the community
in many cases. and So-and-So is con-
graduated upon having held the
"lucky number" that drew the prize
at So-and-So's store. end so on.
Newspapers containing such infor-
nation are unavailable. and the pub
fishers who disregard the postal laws
and regulations are likely at any
time to have their editions held up,
to say nothing about any more seri-
Gus consequences.
Section BAT of the Postal Laws and
Regulations, listing unavailable mat
ter, includes "all matter concerning
any lottery, so-called gift concert, or
other enterprise of chance, or con-
corning schemes devised for the
purpose of obtaining money or
property under false pretenses."
Here is paragraph from pare Sc,
U. S. Official Postal Guide. july, 1917,
which publishers should clip out and
preserve:
"34. The attention of postmasters
and railway postal clerks is directed
to section 4S2 of the Postal Laws and
Regulations, by the provisions of
which newspapers or other publica-
tions of any kind, circulars and
pamphlets, containing advertisements
of lotteries, gift enterprises or
similar schemes offering prizes de-
pendent in whole or in part upon lot
or chance, or lists of the prizes
awarded in pursuance of such schemes
and all other matter relating to
them. are declared to be unavailable.
The terms 'lotterv gift enterprise, or
similar scheme offering prizes depend
emit in whole or in part upon lot or
chance as used in that section, in
clude guessing or estimating con-
tests for prizes, as we'll as drawings
and raff1es of every kind. whether
1ooo1 ,la4 e. 10
gain or in aid Of charitable, edu-
cational or religious objects. and
whether the consideration for chances
he monev or other thing of value.
ENTERPRISES in which prizes are dis !
trihuted among purchasers Of mer- |
chandise in stated amounts, or among |
subscribers for publications, or for |
shares Of corporate stock, through |
the medium of drawings or guessing
contests, ere lotteries within the |
meaning of that section. Publica- |
tions. circulars. cards or pamphlets |
containing advertisements of such en-
terprises, or other notices or informa- |
tion of anv kind relating TO them, |
would be withdrawn from the mails |
and treated in accordafce with sec
tions SAT. STA and 500 of the P. L. &
R.
Endless chain enterprises design
ed for the sale or disposition of mer-
chandise or other things of value
through the circulation or distribu-
ton of Coupons tickets 'certifi- !
Gates introduction and the like,
are held to embrace the elements of !
p lottery and also to be fraudulent.
Matter Of every kind relating to such |
enterprises should be excluded or
from the mails, and treat !
ed in accordance with sections SAT,