Pueblo chieftain., 1922-02-23
BY FREpER1c, J. HAsKIN

! Dy PGbEINlS d. I1AShlN
NEW YORK CITY. Feb. 2o,-New
York contrary to its reputation for
cold-blooded sakacity. is ono of the
simplest. meekest and most gulllible of
towns. or all its bland airs OF sophis-
4 tication, it Is as easily impressed by
display as any savage chieftain. and
it is constantly falling" for all sorts
of hokus pokus that would scarcely de-
| ceive child.
1t is estimated that 40 per cent of
all the questionable stock floated in
| this country during the past five years
has been purchased by New Workers..
1t is well known that thcy contribute
| moro every year to fake charities than
the citizens Of any other metropolis;
| that they support the most extensive
army OF frauds and beggars, and that
they pay the highest prices for the
| most abomiabIe service.
| The New Yorker likes to boast about
his city's superior cultural advantages.
but he carefully ignores all disparaE-
Ing features. Thus. he falls to tell
You how he rides back and forth to
work like a packed sardine in order
to help the transit companies econo-
mize on trains; or how his children are
getting only three hours schooling
| daily because there is not sufficient
space in tho schools to accommodate
them for full time. lie makes no men,
| tlon OF inc battered ConOltlOn OF inc
pavements or OF the large black rivers
that flow down guatters in inclement
weather and render the street cross
ings uncrossable. even with the con-
descending permission OF a policeman
Presumably, he pays taxes for and has
vote concerning tho upkccp OF these
thingS but he does not seem TO mind
IL they are neglected.
New York needs a Declaration of
Independence" said an indignant prop
orty owner recently, but Ii never VIII
be declared. It's too good-natured.
And to think that in the Middle West
where / como from they call this
hard town! They ought to live in 1t
for awhile. Why, It's the easiest town
on earth. 1t will submit to every i'm
position that's foisted upon II. and
smile encouragingly at its oppre3sorH.
BUCKET SHOPS AND BoOBS
1t Is here in this wise and worldly
borough OF Manhattan that the bucket
shop fl0urishes. annually robbing the
public OF millions. 1t is hero that the
fake promoter receives tho most cor
dial welcome. During the war this
wac especially marked, and a great
revival Of stock flotations occurred in
which. according to one financial eS-
pert. gopher holes in the West were
capitalized az oil wells and r name on
a map became a shipyard." rh. re-
suits of these gorgeous but fictitious
war ume enterprises are now begin
ming 10 appear in tho Wholesale col
/ lapse of bucket shops In Wall street
and In the great flood of complaints
that is sweeping into tho New York
district attorneys office.
The New Yorker likes to pretend
that while plenty OF wolves may exist
in Now York, tho sheep upon which
they prey all dwell west of the Hud-
son and south OF tho Battery. But the
police records show that tho largest
sheepfold 10 right here within tho city's
4 sons who are themselves supposed to
| possess unusual business ability.
only the other day" declared po-
lice official, 'wo had tho case OF
prosperous business man who bought
the Grand Central Terminal from n
clever promoter. Honsst' Tho guy
owns three restaurants here. and hos
lived in New York for over ten years.
hut that didn't help him. Ho paid 3d.
$40 for tho Terminal"
| PARADISE OF PANHANDLERS
| While beggars havo always reapcd a
harvest hero. II took IN. war and the
war drive to accuRom New Workers. to
solicitations for funds on every street
corner. During tho whole length of
tho war. Kew York never had any dif-
ficul,y in going over tho top with its
contributions. whether tho campaign
happened TO DO n l~Rlllfnd'~ one OF
not. Undoubtedly. tho majority OF
them were, but they brought In their
wnke tho Inevitable ho~t OF swindlers.
For awhile. anybody with fictious
business card. n guarded moncy-boS
and pathetic piea for tho starving
Pntagonians or Pcrsians could raise
enough money TO keep himSlf In lux
,Iry for "A couple Of years. Even today.
these unofficial appeals aro often sue
| co-sful.
Tho othar nisht. for example,. a tall.
oad-shouldcred figure in Amazing
feminine garb appeared in an Ela-
waited waiting room with small
phonoErsph. and placed ~ on tho
floor. In n few minutes tho waiting
passengers wero listening to tszz
record and at tho same time tn an ap-
peal for starving babies Tho sollci-
tor was dressed in Spanish rekalia. In
ciudinK a somewhat tattcred shawl
and q cheap Spanish comb which sot
off a quantity Of neatly dressed black
hair. This exotic appearance pleased
the public. and they 'gsvo generously
Z, save tho babies. 30 that tho contri-
button box contained very nearly $40
when a policeman came along and
/. Eazed at tho phonosraph and tho
, Spanish vision in some sston'shment-
Then he drcw nearer and ravc play
fui ysnk to tho neatly dressed black
hair. 1t came OFF.
Hello. John" ssid the policeman n
calmly. 'I thought that was you.
Got a new game. I ee. Last time I
ran you IN you wero plsyin' lame
down on Forty-s~cond' street. How
! long have you been hero minutes? {?
Gosh. sal5 in 20 miuutesi How the
public does love a freud''
Another beggar. recently arrested.
has been in tho habit of earning n very
i good living by throwing fits. Ills
technique is something like this;
Choosing wcil-populated corner
somewherc in the Bronx. he flcps care
Z fully down on the payemept emitting