Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1930-09-25
ARE YOU 'INVESTINGs
OR "SPECULATING?'
BY Henri Parmelee, Manager, Better
Business Bureau of Spokane. Wash.

The Better Business Bureau is fire.
quently called upon to answer the
question. rs the stock of such and
such company a good investment
Our answer to that question is always
the same. We cannot advise you as to
whether you should or should not put
your money into any specific invest
ment offering. That sort of service Is
not our function. 1t is our job to as
semble the facts about investment
propositions, keep these facts on file
where the public may consult them
but the prospective investor must make
his own decision as to whether or not
he wishes to put his money into the
proposition.
Some people want to take a chance.
They are willing to assume certain
hazards hoping to gain more through
chance.
These are SPECULATINGI
Others desire to put their money
where it is surrounded by greater safe
guards-where the chance of losing all
of their investment is remote. They
are willing to sacrifice greater return
in payment for safety Of principal and
assurance Of income. They INVEST
The Better Business Bureau contends
that those people who want to put their
money into a security should have all
the facts necessary to decide whether
they are specializing or investing. That
is why the Better Bureau offers fact
information regarding investment prop
ositions The bureau is supported by
business and financial organizations
making it possible to give you this in
formation without charge, There is no
obligation. The bureau has nothing to
sell
To help you in deciding whether the
proposition submitted to you is an
investment or speculation the Better
Business Bureau offers a set Of test
questions which you may ask the sales
man for the security offered you His
answers will tell you whether or not
it would be well for you to put your
money into the proposition 1t would
be well, too, for you to ask yourself
the following questions:
l. Have | all the facts necessary
to decide whether this is speculation
or an investment?
O. Can / afford to lose ALL my
money if | decide to speculate and it
turns out to be failure?
3. Would it be more profitable in
the long run to invest" instead oil
"speculating2"
Get the FACTS first, then decide for
yourself We do not condemn nor rec
ommend the proposition about which
you inquire. You are the sole judge
GET THE FACTS. The facts make q
good proposition better and show ur
an unworthy scheme in its true light
: Why do business and financial or
ganization support the work of tht
Better Business Bureau is another
question frequently asked us. Simpl,
because business men, in ever increas-
ing numbers, realize that money los
through fraudulent promotional oper-
atoms harms every channel of bushes.
and destroys confidence in all business
Money lost in bad investments would
otherwise eventually flow into legiti-
mate channels of trade for useful mer-
chandise or sound investments ant
would help build the economic re.
sources of the community.
When an investor finds his saving
have been lost in a questionable stool
promotion masquerading under tn,
guise of honest business he is likely L
lose confidence in all business