Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 32, Number 44, Decatur, Adams County, 20 February 1934 — Page 5

■ —'"■ ■ 1 ■ —— ■ - ■ - - ■ - - ...... —— —— »■ A W^^Sss2a !^ 11 ' • I « «L (• j > H fe. M ■ g < Isn't it '. W ■ My Hottio used to be my castle, where I could live without r annoyance—When the door bell rang I could expect a friend or > neighbor. But that is not so any more, with solicitors, agents, ' l peddlers, ringing my door doorbell from early morning—yes, even J 2 ’till late in the evening using “something free” or smart «tory j ts ‘ methods to gain admission to my home. In fact says the Prudent Housewife and Miss Thrifty Shopper—“l am pestered with peddler* trying their specialty sales arguments on me every day of the week until they have become a NUISANCE.’* WHO ARE BE X LL |RIIIN|GERS? ■■Hill ■ ‘ ' As a Rule many are Floaters— here today and gone tomorrow. They are NO T responsible financially, morally or otherwise. They are NOT taxpayers or voters in any community. Where a local citizen is representing a house-to-house selling firm, he or she secures the majority of business thru the friendly sympathy racket and NOT on the merits of the product. This condition is OVERWORKED in every community—and Master Peddlers are always looking for this class of representative. Many Are Irresponsible. Men who cannot hold a position of any re- I sponsibility for any length of time—and continually float from one job to another. The large number of classified ads reading “Agents Wanted—Canvassers—Peddlers —Solicitors —Representatives to sell from house-to-house” confirms the uncertainty of the peddler. If a Strange Man Came to Your Door- -with nothing to sell—ask- | ing for permission to come into your home— WOULD YOU LET HIM 7A ? I * I Can You Afford To Take A Chance?

What Values Have These Peddlers To Offer? Do you always receive THE SAME QUALITY as in sample shown? A large majority of these Peddlers arc representing firms which go into the wholesale market and buy SECONDS—IMPERFECTS paying equally as much as your merchant does for;perfect standards. When the merchandise you ordered from the peddler arrives—and it DOES NOT PROV E SATISFACTORY—Can You Get Your Money Back? Try to locate the clever salesman who collected your deposit.

> • a i « a JE j JL X JL A $ 4* v —

, , .. r with the itinerant peddler ... . for tkev represent legitimate business houses who are furnishing employment to loeal people, pay local taxes and are entitled Do NOT confuse representatives I local nsUtm ns« cre<|en(ja|s f ,. ()|n firms co P yright-THE city loyalty association to an interview. Proiccct yomseii. a. * ■ ■■ IF- " ' 'l'"' ' l 1

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1034.

I ■ — ——- — "" - ----- - 1 - - - - - - ~t A Warning from the Chief of Police to the Housewives and Citizens of Decatur: THIS IS A WARNING TO BEWARE OF STRANGERS POSING AS SOLICITORS. Salesmen or inspectors, STRANGERS seeking admittance to premises as salesmen, solicitors or inspectors SHOULD NOT BE ADMITTED UNTIL THEIR CREDENTIALS HAVE BEEN CHECKED UP AND VERIFIED THROUGH DEPENDABLE LOCAL PERSONS OR LOCAL INSTITUTIONS. IN MANY CASES strangers, without reliable credentials are ’‘spotters” for professional criminals, and according to police records, lack of caution on the part of the householders in admitting such strangers often times result in costly property losses and bitter experiences. DO NOT PAY CASH IN ADVANCE to strangers on any merchandise—in many cases and from experiences reported to the police department the customer has NEVER RECEIVED ANYTHING FOR THE CASH ADVANCED—nor has any refund been made of the initial cash deposit. CO NOT CASH CHECKS FOR STRANGERS or issue a check as a down payment on an order to a stranger, as in a number of cases t these cheeks have been altered and later cashed by a third and innocent party. IT IS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY—BE SURE YOU KNOW WHO the stranger is at your door before granting admittance to your heme. IN CASE YOU ARE SUSPICIOUS phone the POLICE AT ONCE. We are anxious to cooperate with our citizens at all times. HIGH PRESSURE—FREE GIFT ARTISTS have been working the resident district of Decatur of late selling all kinds of merchandise, offering “something free" as a means to get in to the home, In most cases there is NOTHING FREE to be given away. ONE NEED NOT BE AFRAID of offending the honest solicitors—salesmen or inspectors living here or representing local firms. THEY HAVE THEIR CREDENTIALS WITH THEM and welcome such investigation. That is why they are required to carry credesLals. Protect yourself—ASK FOR CREDENTIALS showing their identity. SEPH MELCHI, Chief of Police

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