Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1923-01-05
SWINDLERS
By John Bush

While newspapers and public men
rail about labor disputes and are pre-
tending to expend energy in an effort
to eliminate strikes in the interest
of the long suffering public, little is
said and nothing of any real value
is being done for the wage-earner or
the public of which they speak so
pathetically, who have been for
years and are yet being fetched of
the savings of years by the meanest
type of crook the world knows.
A few years ago the newspapers
had those who read their propaganda
and believe it, excited to the extent
that all one could hear was some
daring bank robbery or daylight hold
up. They depicted the nation in the
throes of a great crime wave. 1t is
interesting to note however, that the
great nationwide crime wave ceased
suddenly when the state constabulary
bill in many states, through the vigil
ance Of organized labor, was passed
to the waste basket.
For years before during and since
that time hundreds of people who the
state constabulary was supposed to
protect from striking union men,
holdup men and thugs who stole the
farmers CROPS and live stock, have
been looted bv the glib-tongued stock
selling swindler, or what might be
better termed the more intellectual
and polished thief. Whatever may
be said or done in the interest and
welfare of the community by the
press and those individuals who for
self-aggrandizement pose as reform
ers, there is nothing which would be
more conducive to the best interests
of the so-called public than to place
the operations of the polished stock
swindlers and their character into the
bright light for public observation
and careful study.
There is no data that can be gather
ed in connection with any other legi-
innate or illegitimate business that
portrays the peculiarity of character
and attitude of mind than that as
regards the buying and selling Of
stock. Inasmuch as it is not only
the unlearned wage Garner who is
f1eeced out of his earnings but the
learned and successful business and
professional men and women, the
fault and cause cannot be attributed
to the lack of education. Men who
are so easily caught in the dragnet
of the stock swindlers are, compara-
lively speaking, of the same status
of mind as the man who is too busy,
or too vain to take such exercise as
is necessary to keep the body in good
physical condition, but will take a
chance on their lives by being oper-
ated on by fake physician for
monkey glands to restore their youth.
There are many cases in the city
of Newark that would suffice as
proof of the above contention.
The most debased and corrupt pro-
moter of stock selling schemes is the
one who takes fat living from the
lean savings of the poor. He trades
on an alleged hatred Of Wall Street
and kindred interests. According to
him the poor man never gets chance
in the most substantial brokerage of
flee or even in a bank. He comes to
the worker, often in the guise of a
wage Garner giving good advice, and
has at his tongues end the records
of earnings in many industries, which
shows what ten or one hundred dol
lars is supposed to have earned in
each of these industries. They are
always careful to impress upon the
mind of the sucker that the inventor
or originator of the idea that was re-
sponsible for the establishment of the
industry was too wise to let the
bankers get hold on their invention
but took his plan to the workers and
let them have a chance to get some
of the profits.
The amounts obtained by this class
of swindlers from the workers is
generally small, $4,000 is about the
average. People who are familiar
with court proceedings know that it
is not worth while to bring suit for
the recovery of such sums. If the
were as eager to pro-
mote the general interest of the
community, instead of devoting so
much time and space to decryinr the
laboring men who are willing to work
and produce, providing he receives a
near living wage, they would expose
schemes of the elarned and congenial
thief.
The worst feature as regards the
selling Of stocks is that when an
honest and reliable man wishes to
sell some stock, with a view OF de-
veloping an establishedNand legitimate
business, he quite frequently. meets
with much rebuff due to the operation
of the dishonest class