Look Out for Them by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Oct 25, 1910

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 37, No. 42.

Look Out for Them

By Editor

Just a word to our readers, whether of like faith or not, anent the prevalent get-rich-quick schemes so much in evidence. In glowing terms and strong type their story reads splendidly to the man or woman who has saved by the hardest work a few hundred dollars. When the story is told by some smooth, oily-tongued promoter it seems true and the prospects wonderful. He talks of the interest he has in you. Before the last few first-issued shares are sold he wishes you to buy and "come in on the ground floor. This is the opportunity of a lifetime, and it may never come again." It may be a mine of marvelous worth, or a great and wonderful invention which will put all other machines designed for like use into the junk heap. Or it is a new process of manufacturing this or that so much cheaper than hitherto that it will revolutionize an industry.

We need not mention the various things which have come to the editor of this journal in the years past. Doubtless he and the manager of this office could have "come in on the ground floor" many times if they had lent the influence which providential positions gave them in favor of some enterprise. But in justice to all whom they might to the slightest degree influence, they would not; and they have lived to see many of these "hot-air" schemes collapse, which seemed to some hard-working men and women solid rock. There are many "South Sea (and Mississippi) bubbles" of smaller caliber. The big ones almost wrecked two governments financially, and ruined many shrewd business men; the smaller schemes are equally deceptive, and take the hard earnings of thousands.

Beware of all such promoters, whoever they are. There are millions of capital held by shrewd men waiting profitable investment. Be assured these "wonderful discoveries" or inventions would soon be known to them. They would probably wish to investigate more fully than would please the promoter. Do not invest your money unless you have good assurance as to the safety of the investment from some better source than the mouth of an oily-tongued promoter.