The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-01-13

Recently there was submitted to our
hrm proposition which contemplated
the giving away Of an automobile, the
alleged value of which was 81 coo, on
some drawing or guessing contest ard
the promoters plan would have secured
from the local merchants, who might
participate, $4,000, and I think similar
scheme of probably less magnitude was
carried out here later.
The programme advertising has
doubtless become one of the most ser;-
Gus burdens, not that the outlay for any
one is large, but the rapidity with which
they succeed each other, coming SIS
many as dozen in a single day puts
the expense of the items beyond rea-
sonabIe limit.
Then we have the blotter man who
puts your ad on a blotter and places one
in every Office, The directory man with
a card six by eight with the principal
telephone calls, which is quickly con-
signed to the waste basket but you
have paid your 81 per inch, not because
the ad had merit, but because the solicit
tor was your customer and you could
not refuse him.
Schemes Without Number.
During the year 1905 more than
thirteen hundred advertising sch emes
were presented to the advertising COM
mittee, most of which were turned
down and many solicitors left Topeka
unable to get a footing without the
sanction of the Commercial club COM
ried away hundreds of dollars.
1T should be of interest to every
merchant of Topeka to know that q
programme which has formerly been
yearly expense of S255 paid by adver-
Users was supplied last year from the
fund of the committee at a total cost
of $25, net saving of $3.50.
"A programme that contemplated
$3.50 in advertising from the mer-
chants on Kansas avenue, and would
have secured it because no individual
dealer would say no, was supplied by
the committee at a total cost of $3.50,
q net saving of STAT. A small an
nouncement card which carried space
for over $50 in advertising was sup
piled for 81 and the item was so small
that the bill was never presented to
the treasurer for payment
NO Field for Grafters.
Proper cooperation among the
business men of Topeka viii quickly
impress the solicitor that Kansas ave
nue. is a fruitless field for grafters and
the promoters and schemers from
outside, who have hitherto found our
town easy will be forced to move on.
THE solution is easy and careful
observation cOnVinces me that if every
merchant will pay into the club fund
One-fourth of the amount he spends
cards and the scores of little cash
items for advertising or donations,
and direct all solicitors and applicants
for miscellaneous advertising to the
Commercial club, the entire matter
will be handled in q more satisfactory
manner to all concerned and will re-
suit in a saving of not less than two
thousand dollars per month to the
merchants.
''In my opinion no matter of more.
vital importance comes before the club
than the subject of advertising and en-
tertainment and I hope it will be given
the most careful consideration"
For Convention Purposes. $4,000.
The advertising and entertaining COM
mittees entered a joint report which
recommends the raising ofS4.00O for con-
vention purposes. It follows:
The committee on entertainment and
advertising respectfully report that To-
peka has enjoyed one of the best years
for state and other gatherings, in TIL;
history of the city. Thirty five state and
national gatherings Of more or less inn
portance have been he'd in Topeka dur
ing the year. The meetings have all
been well attended and me business OF
the city has been cOrreSpOnd1ngly beIle-
flied. The most of these meetings We're
secured through the efforts of the club
during the previous year. Inc tund
subscribed. by the hotels business
houses and manufacturers of the city,
has all been paid. The advertising plan
adopted by the club year ago has
worked to the entire satisfaction of the
committee In q few instances. the sub
scribers to the fund have broken over
the rules and a little friction has en-
sued The attention of the club is called
to the paper read at this meeting by
Mr.. J. w. Robinson, chairman of the
subcommittee. having immediate
charge of the local advertising situation.
The plan adopted a year ago has been
of unquestiona bic benefit to the bust
ness men of the city as clearly set forth
by Mr.. Robinson.
Not as much outside advertising as
was intended has been done, caused by
the funds of the committee being tied
up in the First National bank.
Inasmuch as this is convention year
and the times demand liberal advertis-
ing. calling the attention of the outside
world to the advantages of our city, we
recommend that an entertainment ana
advertising fund of $4,000 be raised for
the year The subscriptions to this fund
to cover the entire expense for entertain
ment and advertising for the year and
relieving the business men from any
further subscriptions. We also recon-
mend that instead of maintaining two
committees one on entertainment and
one on advertising. that the two COM
rnittees be consolidated and named the
Entertainment and Advertising Com
mittee" and that this committee be au-
thorized to name an executive commit
tee selected from its members. The
executive committee to solicit subscrip-
lions to the fund, disburse the same ana
do whatever may be requested by the
general committee
We recommend that this report be re-
ferred to the incoming entertainment
and advertising committees and that
they be instructed TO proceed at once
to circulate the necessary subscription
papers and raise the required amount.
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