The multiplicity of these schemes led to the establishment of the
"financial paper," designed, according to the publisher's statement,
to guard investors against get-rich-quick frauds. To the police these
papers are known as "special form papers." The editor comprises the
staff. The contents consist of financial matter usually stolen from
reputable journals, a formidable array of financial advertising, and,
most important, "reports" on investment concerns. For a consideration
the "special form" paper tells its readers that the "Cotton Mutual
Investment Company" is sound and reliable. The manager of the "Cotton
Mutual" buys as many copies of the paper as he wants, as it has no
regular time of publication, and can be run off in any quantity at any
time with the article boosting the "Cotton Mutual." The get-rich-quick
manager then sees to it that the paper finds its way into the hands
of his "sucker list," or list of names of persons whom he hopes to be
able to induce to "invest."
Therefore, when reading want ads. in the newspapers, consider
carefully the nature of the promises made. If they are too rosy, too
high-flown, have nothing to do with that ad. or the man who inserted
it. You may depend upon it that it is a fake. There are no great
armies of persons walking about this country seeking to give away
something for nothing.