The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-24
BILLPOSTERS AND STICKERS.
Distinction Between Them-A CompIi-
ment for the American Profession.
London Telegraph.

London Telegraph.
Very clearly the distinction between a
billposter and billsticker was emphasized
at a dinner which took place last night at
the Holborn restaurant under the chair
manship OF Mr.. Walter Hill. 1t appears
that the billposters, who are now welded
together into an important organization, OF
which Mr.. HUI Is the president, are not the
men VINO climb long ladders in order to
affiX huge advertisements upon boardings
and buildings, but are merely the employ
ers of those useful individuals. Another
point emphasized was the fact that bill
posters and billstickers have educated
themselves up to the level of the artistic
pictorial advertisements which now adorn
some of our public places, and are in no
wise, except oy descent, to be associated
with the ignOble billposters and billstickers
of bygone generations.
Mr.. j. b. BoyIes proposed The London
BillpOsters' Protective Association, Linn
ited.' and expressed his conviction that the
business was only in its infancy. Hear,
hear.l Already they had impressed the
artist. the designer, the photograph and
Kaleidoscope into the service of publicity,
but many of the resources Of science and
invention were still open TO the enterpris-
ing. America could teach England a great
deal in this matter. In this country We
had posters which were works Of art. but
the work OF displaying them to the great
est advantage had still to be learned. Real
ly, there was as much art in posting bills
as in making a speech in Parliament.
[Cheers and a voice, "A great deal more"
The chairman, in responding, said he did
not think there was any trade which had
labOred under so much Misrepresentation
as bill posting. Hear. hear.1 He claimed
that billposters were performing a useful
work. and doing it we'll. Look upon the
picture galleries on the public walls and
boardings, and they would realize how
intimately their trade was bound up With
the great commercial interests OF the coun-
try and with the everyday life OK the peo-
pie. He claimed that the trade set even
the press an example in realizing its re-
sponsibilities and in taking measures to
prevent abuse in regard TO what they pub
lished. Through their censorship commit
tee they could and did prevent the exnibi
ton of any posters calculated TO offend
public MORALS. With regard 10 the purely
aesthetic question he confessed he had but
little patience to answer those whose
nerves were unstrung by a discOrd in col
ors. but as to alleged unsuitable and OBJ
jectionRble posting stations he claimed
that billpOsters were, as a general rule,
as appreciative Of the properties as other
people. ICheers.l In this connection he
commended that most of the troubles arose
from advertisements with which they had
nothing to do. such as boards in fields and
isolated instances OF extravsgant ideas in
advertising. which were not, however, per-
petrated by the ~billposter. Hear. hear.l
From time 10 time a cry was raised to tax
posters. bat IL was true that they We're al
ready taxed to the extent OF 80 per cent. OF
the value OF all space on which bills were
posted. while on the public highway the
local authority could tax by way of license
20 what extent IL pleased, even 10 prohlbi-
ton.