Abel Allan Goodman, an Individual Trading as Weavers Guild v. Federal Trade Commission

The Federal Trade Commission, the respondent herein, to be referred to as “the Commission”, after an investigation of the practices of Abel Allan Goodman, an individual trading as “Weavers’ Guild”, to be referred to as “the petitioner”, filed a complaint on December 22, 1953, charging him with violation of § 5(a) (1) and § 5(a) (6) of the Federal Trade Commission Act.

I.

The Proceedings Under Review.

In substance, the complaint charged that by the use of the words “Weavers’ Guild” the petitioner had represented himself that his business was an organization or guild of weavers organized to protect the interests of its members, and that, for the purpose of obtaining salesmen in connection with the sales and distribution of his home study course of instruction in a method of repairing damage to cloth, he had caused to be published in interstate commerce advertisements, and false, misleading and deceptive statements as to the prospective earnings of such salesmen and the assistance which would be given tó them. And for the purpose of inducing the salesmen to sell the course of instruction he had made false, deceptive and misleading claims and representations concerning the course…