Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(US) sweet and silly.

1896		Ade Artie 98: If you ever went out to the Carrolls and spring that gum-drop talk the old man wouldn’t do a thing to you.
1902		Wilson Spenders 344: Think of a husky, two-fisted boy like him lettin’ himself be called by a measly little gum-drop name like Percival [DAE].