The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-25
BUSINESS Bl)REAUPLANVED
 FOR BIRMINGHAM
X Advertising Club Will Take Initiative In Movement

The Advertising club meeting, which Fill be held Monday at noon at the Futwiler hotsl, will be devoted entirely p the discussion of the proposed Bet er Business bureau, which the Adver-
 sing club is promoting rs 4,
 Probably the point at which the Rork of the Better Business Sureau
 puches the interest of most persons, Birmingham business men say, is in
 reventing and in punishing those who
 Fe guilty of mulchins the investor through fake stock and oil schemes of
 arious kinds.' said H. D. Cullen, presi-
 ent of the Direct by Mail Advertisins
 gency, discussing the meeting and its
 purposes, Sunday. \ t-7s.s.9S
 For months the press has been full
 { stories about the bringins to, brook E Dr. Trsderick Cook and the other
 rocked oil promoters of various parts
 < the western oil fieids. Not everyone
 nows that this was brought about hrousA the Better Business bureau, Ihich have their national heAdquArters h New York and have local Organiza- |ons in over forty of the larger cities
 [ the country.
 n Getting Results
 'sThe officials of the national organi- htion worked with the state and fed
 eal authorities in bringing these crooks ! hook. In addition, they have extend
 d their activities into hundreds or kher fields in the protection of the in |eetor. No longer Is it 'n0body's busi- Iess' as to the fake stock salesman. fo longer is it altogether necessary to epend on state or local laws to pro kct the innocent man or woman who without experience in matters ffnan- kally," Mir. Cullen continued, 'for the of the Better Business
 ureaus extend into every part of this
 :aThey have, within the past few honths, trapped and put ont of busi-
 ess ali kinds of fakes, from the fire |hle' store, whose goods have never |ben fire sale, to the smooth tongued lock salesman whose victims are kidows and ignorant persons who have |bme into some funds. One notorious |rook had literally stolen hundreds of |housands of dollars from automobile |wrers in a number of central western |kates through memberships in so- Killed club. He was stopped, tried and
 enfenced to a long term in the fed |Eal penitentiary.
 To Protect Investors.
 Every legitimate business suffers kom inc tepredations of Buch crooks" |kid MT. Cullen, almost as much as |bes the individual who loses his funds through investment in such schemes. |h Alabama at present w6 are unpro- |ected by state laws. because the blue |ky' law was recently declaFed uncon' |kitutioral. All the more reason why |Fe should have in Birmingham such an as the Better Business |hreau. with the backing of the honest Ibsiuess men, the newspapers and the |anks, 1t can protect the business the buyer of merchandise |f all kinds, the investor of funds. It |kn and will make for better ethical |ractices on the part of our entire |nsiuess community. This meeting |f0nf]ay should make certain the eariy of such bureau. There \ no other bureau between Richmond, |fa.. and Dallas, Tex, Mir. Cullen said. | At the meeting Monday q number |f leading merchants and others who |ke interested in the work of the bu- |kau will spenk on the subject. The Seeting has been called for the object |k informing as many as possible oi |he details of the plan and how it will |sfect the business of Birmingham. \ The chairman of the Advertising |Iuh committee that has the matter in |land ia Fred J. Holberg, adyertising |[anacer of the xouis Saks Clothing |bmpsny. and he is being assisted by |be fun membership. They have al. Ihady secured the promised support of N large number of business men for the 'tork and a detailed report will be made : this meeting, with suggestions as to ||s completion.
 Ield by the club on this matter. A cor |Esl invitation Is extended by the presi- |ent. Herbert J. Baum, te all those Tho might be interested to attend. Aside Tom the retail merchants, those most kterested are the manufacturers. bank "a and newspapers. All will benefit |Eom the operation of such bureau |bre aa the bureau will not only dis |buraee unethical and false advertising, [,t will also operate to discontinue |S,estionabie financial t. methods and Gulty merchandising of all kinds.
 The bureau will be far more than Ia organization to fight false and mis- |Iadinr advertising, much as that ie eeded. but will cover every angle of
 g,siness and will help to iuaugurate Ind carry on better business practices 'f all kinds.
 II Owing to the shottness of the time, jh formal invitations have been issued Mi all those interested are invited to
 s nresent at the meeting, which will lbnyene at 12 ;3O sharp, shfr.g Cullen bncluded. ..a12 a>,4 .i'... .al EALEM, O., VISITED 2 ;,