Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-11-04
SPEAKING OF SUCKERS"

The Associated Press reports con-
Eerning the claims pouring in on the
promoter Of Frank H. Gordon, Inc,
black fox ranching concern, present
a picture to the imagination, which
doesn't need to be lively to receive
what should be lasting impression.
Here we see man. who states that
he has received Of other peoples
money around $2,9O0,o0o, paid out for
foxes $1.500,000, has never drawn
salary-only living and travelling ex-
penses, which might have amounted
to $50, 000-and now hasn't enough 10
employ a lawyer to defend MN,
standing apparently as helpless as
man caught in Dakota blizzard
while the falling claims snow him IN.
It is conceivable that here we have
n demonstration of the adage that
the way of the transgressor is hard
even II he but transgressed the
bounds of safe business, yet it were
better to withhold our sympathy, at
least until the dollars received
have been traced. Neither would we
waste pity on business men, ac-
uuainted with business methods from
which it must have been clear that
ultimately there would come day OF
reckoning for the methods OF the 1ox
concern.
Not only would we not waste SYM
pathy on such investors, some OF
whom appear to have secured more
of money than they put in, but we
would hold them in sense response
BILE for the misfortunes that have
overtaken investors. who did not
have knowledge of business meth
DDS, who were influenced by the fact
that business men were investing and
in some instances appeared to have
done SO profitably. Possibly the bus
mess men did not realize they so
were contributing to the swindhng OF
those with meager savings and less
knowledge Of investment. but the
fact remains that they did. 1t would
seem impossible that suffering has
net come to many an individual be-
cause of this exploiting Of the pre-
vailing desire to get rich quickly, es-
pecially to those who in their in
vestments followed the lead of others
in whose business judgment they
had confidence.
Perhaps in fairness to the latter,
it would be well to consider that In
the strong boxes of those to whom
the world attributes business sagac-
ity are frequently found at their
deaths evidences that their sagacity
was not as great as supposed.
Once, before children became SO
wise. it was thought excusable for
them to seek treasure at the end Of
the rainbow. Such delusions, how
ever, are scarcely excusable in
grown-ups. Yet most Of us appear
to be afflicted by it; for medicine we
want cure-all, in place Of man Of
sense we want a miracle maker; in
stead of per cent. we believe those
who tell us SO percent is possible;
we hang on the lips Of extravagant
promise and turn a deaf ear to. words
of caution and common sense. And
even when we should and do know
better we yield to the glamor. think
ing It possible that here is a way
that has not been charted and which
may lead to fortune. Moreover,
there Is the appeal Of the gamblers
chance. Human nature will be a
long time getting rid Of that, but
at least those who have little be-
tween themselves and poverty can
not afford to gamble. The world
laughed at the deluded colored peo-
pie Of the South. who thought freedom
meant q plantation and success, yet
those who laugh go on looking for
milleniums when they should keep
their eyes on the road.
"All the real kings of Europe are
said tn live In that great republic