Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-14

flee in the Federal Government was
published along with batch of others,
but the Official informed the bureau
that such publication was unauthorized.
Threats Are Made.
Instances have been reported to. the
bureau indicating that some OF the So
called associations have threatened to
publish uncomplimentary biographies II
the subject refused to subscribe for a
favorable one. A prominent Govern
ment Official now representing the
United States abroad has written to
the bureau stating that several years
ago. following the occasion of. his wife
being presented at the Court of st.
James, he was deluged with offers to
publish his photograph and biography,
all of which he declined. When he re-
fused, however, certain Of the solicitors
stated that they would go ahead with
the biography and that 1t wouldn't be
complimentary.
"A member of the Better Business
Bureau of New York recently reported
the following experience to that or
ganiZation: Following the press an
nOuncement Of his engagement he was
waited upon at his club by several rep
reSentatives of pseudo press associations
who stated thay had a story about his
divorce, which had occurred some few
years ago. 1t was lurid story. they
reported, and could be silenced for sew
eral hundred dollars. The member paid
the fee asked, but shortly thereafter he
was waited upon by representatives Of
another so-colled press association. He
then reported these blackmailing activi-
ties to the bureau.
Another form of the puff or glory
sheet scheme is the publication of
magazines containing complimentary
Write-ups exclusively. Here the scheme
is worked by rewriting some news items
that appeared in the press about some
prominent firm or executive and then
telephoning to the subject of the write
up to check its accuracy. These pub
fishers adopt q name similar to such
legitimate publications as Nations Bust
ness or System Magazine. When the
telephone call is made the subject be-
Heves he is dealing with one of these
reputable publications. The telephone
solicitor then urges his prospect to take
additional copies of the issue in which
the story will appear for filing and
publicity purposes. Many prominent
executives and corporations have been
victimized by these fakirs.
Pander to SwindIers.
"a vicious feature of these publica-
tons is that they also pander TO the
swindlers. particularly the vendors of
fake stock. Thus a fraudulent security
house is able to obtain a great quantity
Of reprints of q laudatory but false re-
port of the Arm and its offering from
what appears TO be legitimate maya
zine. Actually, these publications have
| no standing whatever They are not
even for sale to the public, but obtain
all of their income by selling quantities
Of their irregularly published issues to
those who are praised for considera-
ton.
IF the persons solicited for
biographical Write-up cannot supply .
| photograph, the pseudo associations
offer to have one taken without add.
| tional cost. Whereupon a photographer
appears, takes numerous photographs
and later exertS every effort to have
the subject purchase a quantity of high
priced photographs. What appears K
be an amazing willingness on the par