Word: racket
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: all
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
Dentifrices. Far more widespread than ticket dupery is another form of "misrepresentation" also recently under fire. This is the so-called "dentifrice racket." Fortnight ago the liberal New Republic (weekly) called attention to various statements of the American Dental Association: "No dentifrice can be used for so-called mouth correction . . . mouth acidity or alkalinity cannot be controlled by any induced substances." The American Medical Association has declared: "Dentifrice has in itself no magical or chemical power to clean, and the best mouth washes are warm water or a solution of common table salt...
...increase in crime, together with a new insurance policy to cover an old racket, were last week announced by R. A. Algire, vice president of National Surety Co. ("We bond more people than any other company in the world.") In 1929, said Mr. Algire, surety companies collected 35 million dollars in premiums representing burglary, robbery and theft insurance to the amount of five billion dollars. New York State spent nine million and New York City $6,500,000 to buy crime insurance. Mr. Algire estimated that in 1930 the surety companies would pay out large claims, as he anticipated...
Narcotics. "It is openly alleged in Boston that Charles ('King') Solomon is head of the dope racket ... is the chief source of supply for all wires, runners, peddlers and addicts in New England . . . has reaped unbelievable profits...
Bootlegging. "Largest and best paying racket in Boston." An annual $60,000,000 is spent in Boston's 4,000 speakeasies or paid to 5,000 Bostonian bootleggers. The liquor ring is bossed by a onetime policeman who on the side dabbles in a trucking business, restaurants, cigar stores, pool rooms, an amusement arena, prize fighters...
Last week the Department of State was moved to issue a public warning against a new international racket. By smooth-tongued "agents," many U. S. citizens have been convinced that they are heirs to large British estates ?the buccaneering gold of Sir Francis Drake, the "Blake millions," the "Townley estate" et al. To get these fortunes out of "Chancery," the "heirs" were duped into paying the racketeers thousands of dollars in "legal fees." Letters from some 300 would-be inheritors have swamped the U. S. Consulate in London...