Evening star., 1937-06-27
By Joseph Marian.

Ntu SGU tUuL HuBc TeGPT
heard Of as mary rnckets or Would-
be rackets in any city OF the porld
as there ore right here in Wash
ington. D. C."-Representatipe
Wright Patman, in the Congress
sional Record, Monday, June II,
1897.
TN. REVIEWING the Summer
camp for poor kiddies'' rackets
Uncovered within the past few
weeks, we feel quite safe in stat
ING that should just one-half the
amount collected in their name be ex-
pended in their behalf, every poor
youngster in the District would be able
to enjoy two or three weeks Of health
4ul camp life this Summer.
We were glad to be advised that
one of the camp rackets we exposed
three weeks ago had ceased firing"
upon the good people of Washington,
but before doing so we assume they
gathered tidy sum for themselves.
This week we received a comunica-
tion from political group, who,
after congratulating us upon a good
Job of exposing illegitimate PROPOSE
tons. asked that We give theirs, which
Is, according to them, legitimate, 4
"break."
just as long as they continue to use
their publication as CLUB" over the
head of the Washington business man
We do not feel they are deserving of
any sort Of a break"
1t was our good fortune to be seated
when a solicitor for their organiza-
tion called on the telephone relative
10 securing an advertisement in the
next issue of their periodical, and
We heard the entire conversation.
Without going into full details re-
earding the pitch" suffice to say it
was a mild sort of blackmail. it being
suggested that the organization was
IN a position to grant many favors
and inferring it would be Just too
bad" If the prospect refused to ad
vertise, to which veiled threat he
promptly replied in the negative.
IAN OUT-AND-OUT swindle which
has just been brought to our
attention is being perpetrated upon
the young lawyers in the District by
solicitors for so-called Lawyers
Directory"
The law student who has success
fully passed the bar examinations Is
the chief prospect for this fraud.
The fee for listing and short bio
graphical sketch of the prospect is
$35. for which they actually have
the gall to guarantee at least $500 in
attorneys fees the first year. The
publication is pictured as being dis
tributed to law libraries throughout
the country and TO the Offices of the
prominent attorneys in the large
cities, the assumption being that they
will at one time or other require the
services of District of Columbia
lawyer. This all listens" very well,
but the publishing house from down
East which is supposed to issue this
book is totally ignorant Of such a
publication and have no solicitors rep
yesenting them in Washington.
The recognized law directory, we are
advised is entitled Martindale- Hub
bell Attorneys Directory.
There is but one point in the favor
Of these sWindlers. They do not say
that the money collected will be used
to assist the mothers of the poor,
undernourished kiddies" in our city.
On Sunday May %, We published
. letter received from Edward j.
-, in which he stated that, al
though he had successfully passed a
civil service examination, he was ex-
periencing difficulty in securing an
appointment. He wrote that his
Army discharge meant nothing" and
that he would be compelled to Join
Washington's band Of panhandlers
tour story on panhandlers prompted
his letter. SO that he might provide
for his family, unless he was success
ful in securing position Immediately
This week we received a letter from
an administration official who, in
reading Of Edwards plight, became
interested, and suggested to us
means whereby he will not have to
resort to 'panhandling"
Unfortunately we have mislaid Ed
wards letter, which contained his full
name and address. We therefore hope
that he will read this and get in touch
with us without delay.
"A LETTER received this week
comes from a reader inter-
ested IN our story on the Police Boys