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About The Athena press. (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942 | View Entire Issue (April 23, 1926)
T 1, I I I lv S A V IE AJl L Entered at the Poat Office at Athena, Oreeon. as Second-Class Mail Matter VOLUME 47. ATHENA, UMATILLA COUNTY, OREGON, FRIDAY MORNING, APRIL 23. 1926 NUMBER 17 EXPOSES WILES OF FAKE STOCK i SALESMEN AND PROMOTERS MUCH of the distress, of many people in America today is due, not to the fact that they have not had an opportu nity to earn and save money, but to the fact that they have lost their savings m fraudulent schemes oi one Kina or another. Many a widow is in financial diffi culty not because she was left penniless by her husband but because she lost her inheritance by investing it in "gold bricks." Many a bank de positor who once carried a fine balance is penni less today not because he did not know how to save but because he did not know how to invest. Perhaps if I relate some wild-cat promotions that give an insight into the activities of invest ment sharks it will quicken a relentless determi nation to provide depositors with much needed r. MorehouM advice m investment matters. 1 have come in per sonal contact wiin many cases, some oi mem al most unbelievable because of the very crookedness of the schemes to defraud, yet thousands of our hard-working savers have been led to invest their savings in these promotions. In giving the high lights oi certain cases I am not draw-- ' Jl w c-ing on my imagination in the least, nor am I relying on hearsay, but giv ing first-hand information. I Unbelievable but True I Many millions of dollars have been lost in oil. The sum is staggering. Into ever corner of the United States the malls carry high-powered sales talk of great riches to be made in oil. Carried away by these promises, de positors quietly withdraw funds from their banks and send them on to wild cat speculators. Not one out of a hun dred has erer recovered the money " he Invested. Still wild-cat promotions continue to flourish, with a new crop of victims coming up to take the place of those who are forced out of the excitedly back to the derrick, wrench in hand. "We have drilled to the 'Bell' sand!" the lecturer shouts, bringing cheers from every high-pressure salesman, followed by a chorus of voices from the surprised audience. "We can bring in a 6,000 barrel well if we care to, but If we the 'Meyer get a 12,000 well!" he "O o o n go deeper to sand we can barrel adds. deeper! Association ?r" Journal Se " The Fake Oil Stock Sale Was Opened With Prayer running because they have already lost their savings. ! Listen to this one! It is a typical case. A tract of land, just ordinary land, nothing about it to indicate there is oil beneath the surface. An oil rig, a few tools, half a dozen strings of pipe are close at hand. A large show tent filled with chairs that will seat several hundred people. It Is 10 a. m. The sun is shining bright ly, and it is a glorious day. i Presently several large busses draw up loaded with people ranging in age from fifty years to eighty. A corps of high-pressure salesmen rush out to greet the arrivals and to assure them that they are most welcome to what will be the next great oil city of America. The aged and feeble mind ed are tenderly conducted to com fortable chairs under the big tent. In plain view of those seated as they peer out through the flap of the tent stands majestically the oil rig spat tered with crude oil and nearby is the big oil Bump also filled with oil. Through an Ingenious circulating sys tem oil from the sump flows into the well and back into the sump through a pipe in full view. v. Religious Revival Methods ! Presently the official lecturer calls the meeting to order. The impression he creates is that he is either a min ister or has studied for the ministry. He opens the meeting with prayer for the success of the venture in oil After prayer this sanctimonious gentleman tells how he has Invested all of his own earnings and all of his children's savings in the venture, so confident is he that it is to be an oil gusher and aU are to be made rich. He charms his audience with his oratory. He impresses them with his honesty. He calls their attention to oil in plain view. Intimating that it Is from the well And while he is naintlng before them, figuratively speaking, luxury and old age comforts If they invest in the A-A Oil tym pany, the foreman of the rig rushes In. his clothes spattered with crude ofl. He is excited and almost out of breath as he reaches the sanctimoni ous lecturer. A few words are whim pered. The lecturer's face registers gTeat delight at the news. He turns back to his audience, a smile of vic tory on his face. The foreman rushef on down!" shout the salesmen al most in unison, fol lowed by cheers from the listeners. The zero hour is at hand. The time has come for the high-pressure art ists to sign up the listeners for units. The salesmen "hit while the iron la hot." Nearly every listener is. signed up. The few who hesitate are forgot ten only momenta rily, for the tables are brought in and the big free lunch made ready. As all sit down at least one salesman is at every table.' The work cut out for him is to sign up the few who escaped the first "pulling of the net," and you may take my word for it few escape. One by one these old people, under the spell of being rushed into the deal, pay over their cash, sign notes or turn over good securities for units in the "A-A" Oil Company. This picture of an oil speculation may seem too crooked to be true, but it is a real story of how thousands of savings depositors, all past the age of fifty, lost over half a million dollars. This story is one of many hundreds that might be told, all of which have ended disastrously tor millions of in vestors. (Article II will reveal further fraudu lent schemes for robbing worker of their savings.) Truth and Advertising Have Made America Great Truth in news columns and adver tising is the foundation of America's prosperity, Melvln A. Traylor, Second Vice President American Bankers Association, recently said, adding: "Continuance of our prosperity rests chiefly upon continuation of the great est of all causes for our present good times truth in news columns, truth over the store counters and truth in advertising.- World-wide acceptance of great discoveries and Inventions has been due to the fact that the news papers truthfully described them and the manufacturers truthfully adver tised them. If deceit had been the general rule, if the motto had been 'sell quick and let the buyer beware,' the public would have turned against the new things. I recall one particu larly large firm which three years ago began advertising its wares falsely; it is today hopelessly bankrupt "Wise advertising costs nothing. Tou have only to increase the sale of your products to the point that covert the advertising charge to enjoy the enlarged business without cost The natural saving in overhead is extra profit for dividends or for further ex pansion." . WESTERN SENATORS WIN FIGHT JDNJECLAMAT10N Western senators finally won their fight against the administration pro posal requiring the states to finance settlers reclamation projects before granting federal appropriations for the projects. After a two-week's deadlock, house managers of the interior department appropriation bill decided to accept the senate amendments under which a half million dollars from the recla mation fund would be available for federal aid to settlers in lieu of the original house "provision requiring state aid. The amendments represented a compromise between the western senators and Secretary Work after a long series of conferences during which the interior secretary sharp ly assailed as seeking to destroy the whole federal policy of reclamation, the imposition upon states of condi tions which might be unfulfillable due to constitutional inhibitions or lack of funds. The fight to require state .aid started two years ago and affected only the Spanish Springs, Nevada, project. This year, the house approv ing the interior bill,, added four pro jects, the Sun river, Montana, end the Owyhee, Vale and Baker, Oregon projects. Charging these were entering wedges to stop all reclamation pro jects, the western senators organized to resist the administration plan. Af ter a conference with Secretary Work, an agreement was reached foi experimental aid under which the secretary should select the projects for the experiments. Three thous and dollars was to be - allowed for each homesteader for permenant im provements and livestock purchases One. hundred thousand dollars would be available during the fiscal year 1927. and two hundred thousand each in the fiscal years of 1928 and 1929. States will cooperate in select ing experienced farmers for settlers. With most of the highly controv erted sections of the interior bill disposed of, managers hope to reach a complete agreement within a few days and expect to prepare a report acceptable to both houses. SEASON SATISFACTORY Sheep men report a satisfactory season this year, the lamb yield be ing about 125 per cent, which is con sidered a good figure. Lambs are in fine condition, and good prices are quoted in the markets. This year's wool clip is selling around 30 cents a pound, growers report, which is slightly under the prices received last year. DRYS PRESENT CASE BEFORE COMMITTEE Prominent Canadians Testify on Conditions Under Gov e nment Ccntrcl. Washington, D. C The drys train ed their heaviest artillery on the wets this week as they concluded presenta tion of their case before the senate prohibition committee. Chief among, their witnesses were General Lincoln C; Andrews, in charge of prohibition enforcement, who has become a center of fire because of his statement before the committee that government sales of non-intoxicating beer might aid in making the dry laws more effective. . . They also called Mrs. Mabel Walker Wlllebrandt, assistant attorney-general in charge of liquor prosecutions. A square deal for prohibition was urged before the senate hearing com mittee by church leaders of many de nominations, laymen and the Anti Saloon league. Opening the counter-offensive of the drys against the wets, witness after witness insisted that ' congress reject all proposals for modification of the Volstead act and adopt in their place measures putting more teeth into that celebrated law. The drys concentrated on conditions in Canada in an effort to refute testi mony of wet witnesses for the domin ion that licensed government control had proved a boon. W. E. Raney, ex-attorney-general of Ontario and W. W. Peck, educational secretary of the Prohibition Federation of Canada, testified. Mr. Raney said Ontario's experiment in that direction had not proved successful. Both Mr. Raney and Mr. Feck pro duced official records of investigation in Montreal, where liquors of all kinds are sold by the government, to the effect that bootlegging and vice and crime are -prevalent. , They also testi fied that bootlegging was general in all the licensed provinces. Professor Irving Fisher - of Yale estimated that prohibition had saved the county $6,000,000,000 annually in increased efficiency of the workers and declared that if enforcement cost a billion dollars a year it would be worth it. U. OF O. PRESIDENT Arnold Bennett Hall, professor of political science at the University of Wisconsin, unanimously was elected president of the University of Ore gon by the board of regents. He succeeds the late president, Prince L. Campbell. His salary will be $12,000 per year. Bandits Loot Portland Pay Car. Portland, Or. Five desperadoes, trmed with rifles and automatic pis tols, held up the Portland Electric Power company's money transfer truck at Nineteenth and Overton streets Sunday and escaped with about $12,000 in coin and currency. The money weighed more than 600 pounds. MAIL ORDER INSURANCE Insurance Commissioner Moore writes the Press concerning mail Order , Insurance companies solicit ing business in this state. He says: The Union National Life Insurance Company of Kansas City, Kansas, is circulating this state soliciting ac cident insurance. Inasmuch as the one purchasing a policy from this company does not have the protection of this depart ment, or of any of the laws of Ore gon, it is appropriate that the citi zens should hi informed regarding this class ci luatTnee. There are two primary causes for mail order insurance; First, to es cape the payment of taxes; and sec ond, to avoid the restrictions placed upon licensed companies for the pro tection of the policy-holders. Should a claim against one of these policies be contested, the policy-holder would be forced to go to the courts of Kansas for recourse, as the courts of Oregon would be clos ed to him. In purchasing insurance cf any kind it is advisable to patronize only those companies which are licensed to do buisness in this statu, as these companies are under the supervision of the insurance department and are amenable to all laws of the statu of Oregon. WOMAN MAYOR SAYS SEATTLE WILL BE DECENT Seattle will be decent on the sur face, ot least, after she becomes may or on June 7, Mrs. Bertha K. Landes asserts. "I am going to do all I can to con trol the liquor traffic and stop the graft. Right now you can buy liq uor in Seattle as openly as in the old saloon days," the woman mayor de clared. She said she would elect her new police chief from among the men in the department, but that if he failed, she might be forced, to, se lect and outsider. "Civil service rules will not act as a barrier if it be comes necessary to fire a policeman." BRUISED IN WRECK Cars driven by J. R. Winthrop of Walla Walla, and John Walter, Athena farmer, met headon in col lision at the turn going into Weston from Athena, Saturday afternoon. Both cars were damaged. Mr. Walter sustained injury to his right knee and one of his children was bruised on the face. It is reported that Winthrop's car was on the wrong side of the road when the collision took place. Many Auto Tourists Register In Oregon Salem, dr. A total of 7880 tourist automobiles were registered In Oregon during the first three months of 1926, 4003 of these during March alone, ac cording to a report compiled by Secre tary of State Kozer. WESTON 12-HELIX 0 Weston fans witnessed a one-sided affair, on the home lot Sunday, when Helix lost, 12 to 0. McGarrigle heaved the pellet for Weston and McPherrin was on the receiving end of his slants. Pierce, Nelson and Stahl were the battery for Helix Wilbur Harden was at first and Her man Geissel at third for Weston. SCHOLASTIC STANDARDS AT OREGON UNIVERSITY RAISED As a further step in raising the scholastic standards of the Univer sity of Oregon, the faculty has just passed a ruling that hereafter only the upper three-quarters of the class es of the various high schools will be admitted with full student standing. High school graduates whose grades have placed them in the low est quarter of their class will be ac cepted where other requirements are filled, but only as students on proba tion. To avoid possible unfairness to smaller high schools a special excep tion was made of those graduating classes of less than 15, in which cas es the University will examine sep arately into the individual records.. Desire for this type of legislation has been expressed by many educat ors, including numbers of Oregon high school principals, according to Carlton E. Spencer, registar. Special , provision is planned to make the probationary period of ad vantage rather than disadvantage to the students. They will receive ex tra supervision and tutoring until they have had a chance to demon strate whether they are able to over come the handicap evidenced by their high school record. Students who have failed in other institutions will be barred, Spencer announced. No student can register at the University from another col lege unless he is qualified to enter the institution from which he came. Those who are on probation at other colleges will be admitted at the Un iversity only on probation. ' TO ATTEND LEAGUE GOHFERENC No Discussion cf Reservations to American Adherence Nec essary, Note Intimates. EVANGELISTIC MEETINGS The evangelistic meetings now be ing conducted at the Christian church, by Evangelist Hutton in the pulpit, assisted by Carrol Fairbanks, singer and choir leader, are creating interest with the public. The Hut ton sermons are being well received, and Mr. Fairbanks is giving special attention to the singing. Mrs; Anna Compton Winn will sing at tonight'? meeting, and by request will give "Open the Gates of the Temple." For Sunday night, special song num bers are being arranged by Mr. Fair banks for the choir, which has in creased in number for these meetings. Washington, D. C. The United States government, in a note to the League of Nations, declined to attend the proposed league conference on September 1 to discuss senate reser vations to American adherence to the world. Kxurt. - The note stated that the reserva- Hons were plain and unequivocal and must be accepted by exchange of notes directly between ' the United Slates and each of the 4S signatory nations. "It wculd seem to me to be a matter of regret if the council of the league should do anything to create the im pression that there are substantial dif ficulties in the way of such direct communication," said the note, which was signed by Secretary of State Kel logg. "If special machinery is necessary for American participation in tho court, this should naturally be consid ered after the reservations have been adopted, hut tha United States has no objections, however, if the signa tory states wish to confer among themselves at this time," the nota said. WILLIAM M'MURRAY DEAD Willian. McMurray, general pas senger agent for the Union Pacific at Portland, who had been in poor health for about two years, died early Tuesday afternoon, at his home in that city. Mr. McMurray was 65 years old. He was stricken with in testinal influenza in June, 1924, nrd was very ill for two months. Recov ering, he returned to work, only to become ill again about Christmas last year. r " ; v Welcome Home v ; ' i i ' t : : mmmmmEaiWBMpn ro ' ' ; ' if mb 111 m i t v " i n s mw " -. .. - r 1 KILLED AT CROSSING 1 An Ohio newspaper clipping, re ceived by S. F. Sharp, refers to the tragic death of William F. Reno, brother of the late Jacob Reno. Death was caused when Mr. Rcno'y automobile was struck at a crossim; on the Pennsylvania railroad, near Hamburg, Ohio by a passenger train. Mr, Reno was instantly killed, and his companion, George Hess, died bo fore arrival at a hospital. MISS GRANT AT MILTON Miss Vera E. Grant, principal uf Lebam, Washington high school and formerly teacher in Athena high school will be the new head of mathe matics department and Guardian for Campfire Girls at McLaughlin high school. She is a graduate of the University of Minnesota and has done graduate work in mathematics at the University of California. LOYAL WOMEN The Bible school class of the Christian church known as the "Loy. al Women," was entertained at the home of Mrs. Dwight L. Hackett Friday night. The evening was much enjoyed, games and music forming the entertainment of which Mrs. Lew McNair had charge. Appropriate re freshments were served by Mrs. Louis Keen. About twenty-two ladies were present.. DRUNKEN INDIANS Action by the federal government I was requested by authorities to quell the drunken caroussal of Indians on the Klamath reservation, who have I been running wild since a recent ! court decision holding that the In jdians were subject to arrest only by I federal officers. FARM OELESATICN RAPS MCHER BILL Washington, I). C. Administration forces supporting the Tincher farm relief bill and middle western dele gations bacliins the corn-belt plan Tuesday came to Uie parting of tha ways. Secretary Jnrdino urged the Tin cher bill before the house agricul ture commit Uc, whila the delegations issued : a-.statement affirming their "omphalic disapproval" of that meas ure. Mr. Jnrdino assured the committee that tha president approved the gen eral principles of tiia Tincher plan, to extend credit to fanners' co-opera tive nSjOdaticr.s find set up a federal farm board . to promote profitable marketing. An to the farm bill, the occratary locked with disfavor on Its provision for stabilisation of prices by levying an equalization fee on basic farm commodities, The ngrllciillure committee voted to let the house Itself decide what Kind of farm relief it wants at this season. The committee reported both the Tincher n:id Haughen bills, which provldo divergent means of solving tho agrarian problems. REJECTION (F BD ASKED Senate Seeks Unit of Deal for Sale of Ships. Washington, Y). C. Tho senate adopted a resolution calling for the re jection hy th" shipping hoard of the bid of It. Stanley Dollar for the pur chase of tha Admiral-Oriental mail stt-nmshlp line. The resolution, offered by Senator McNary, republican, Oregon, was adopted unanimously Without discus sion or a roll call. It charged that tha shipping boynl liml voted to accept the M.COO.O'j.t bid or Dollar and fail ed to open n liiglur offer made by another bidder. If Dollar obtains the lino, the reso lution said, the Dollar interests would have a monopoly of tho shipping ot tha Pacific and would operate tho line to tho detriment of ihc northwest and particularly the port of Seattle, aa their Intm-sis wen; In California. British Houi Limits Divorce Reports, London. A first step toward clean er newspapers v.as taken here when the house uf commons by 222 votes to 3, passed tho second reading of a bill regulalliiK reports on divorce and separation mils. The bill limits newspapers to the publication of names and addresses of the parties and witnesses, with a brief statement of the grounds of the proceedings, tho legal points, (lie judge's summing up and observations In giving his vordict. The bill tlnii eliminates unsavory evi dence. Eubo.:rine L'li' Injuries 11 Men. New ::, C'o'in. Eleven men were Injure!, i-ur s.-rloualy and seven slightly, by i ,i etjlosion of unknown cause on the subinariue S-49 at tha submarine here.