The Detroit times., 1909-07-15
Though Tardy, These Newspapers
Join With The Times in Excluding
the Unclean Advertisements of
Local Specialists"
Detroit Now Takes on New Distinc-
ton as "A City of Clean
Newspapers"

ncatlon. Wen. here II Is
On July first Detroit's two oldest
newspapers. Free Press and News,
disinfected. Sprinkled cloride OF
lime, SO to speak, upon those corners
or their business pages where the 81
CURE MEN" proclamations have ap-
peared In brazen blackness for time
immemoIial.
The whole smear" of private med.
ical impostors have been dumped from
the pages OF these newspapers for all
time. II is quite clean up, fit cause
for rejoicing in homes that have been
denied by filthy phraseology. and in
advertising circles that are clean ana
legitimate but that have suffered
through contact with poisonous pub
licity.
This belated move on the part OF
the FREQ Press and News-creditable
even III tardy-means a clean press TOR
a clean city II is a victory for decent
journalism and an achievement in the
direction OF better public morality and
higher living in Detroit.
This important development In the
advertising policy Of Detroits oldest
and most widely-known newspapers
is the elimination of years OF agita-
tion here and elsewhere 1t is also in
keeping with the ethical awakening
in business throughout the land. In
nearly every large city one or more
leading newspapers have taken this
stand. Detroit Is the first, we believe,
to have all OF its dailies committed 10
this program of advertising decency.
The Times led off In this reform
nearly nine years ago. II abated Its
rigid exclusion policy somewhat when
the law compelled these advertisers
to keep the more Objectionable terms
out OF the copy. But under this mod.
ified censorship abuses crept in-and
all the time there was the glaring IL.
legitimacy of these charlatans' meth
ods-and on January 1st, 1907, this
paper presented to its readers this
renewed resolution:
Beginning today The Times will cut
out all Objectionable advertising from
It's columns. In accordance with its
Christmas day announcement
This relates not only to private medi-
cal advertisements but TO all paid mat
ter that savors OF quackery or humbug
or imposition upon our subscribers.
This is not an innovation on the part
OF The Times. but return to it's orig
inal policy; or rather a more rigid en-
"a llldl pOliN1 WHICH
abuses have crept In on the specious
plea OF the advertisers. "All the other
Detroit newspapers take our copy;
why shouldn't The Times?
The Times. realizing that II stands
In relationship OF especial closeness
and trustfuiness with it's large family
of readers, proposes TO be law unto
itself in this matter.
Our aim shall be to consider the well
fare OF the public quite as zealously
In what We print in our advertising
columns as In our editorial columns
There has been important exposures
of late on this subject In connection
with the pure food legislation in con-
gress; so that newspapers can hardly
close their eyes to the gross wrongs
practiced upon their readers through
dishonest or unwholesome advertise
ments appearing in their columns
The Times repeats that IL will not
knowingly admit to its columns any
fake or objectionably- worded adver-
tisement.
1t Will do its best to discriminate be-
tween proprietary remedies OF proved
merit anil those that have been shown
to be Injurious or illegitimate. We
know that many advertised medicines
are as deserving OF confidence as doc
tors prescriptions.
We ask the readers cooperation in
this. with the assurance that every
complaint will be investigated
The Times has already done much TO
protect it's readers from the unworthy
investment propositions offered In this
field.
But II considers those who take this
paper and believe In IL have a much
greater right TO protection from fraud
ulent advertisements. especially or
preparations held out as cures to the
afflicted.
The investors know that there are
speculative hazards in every scheme
that depends upon advertising for the
sale OF its stock They put In money
to make more money
But those unfortunates who are suf-
fering from physical Ills are often In
duced through dishonest advertise
ments to part with their meager earn
ings only to suffer. disappointment.
In recognition OF It's duty TO these
readers. and from desire to give legi-
timate advertisers the entire beueht OF
honest business messages addressed TO
our large family OF readers. The Times
It's strict adherence 20 Its
original advertising policy
The fake ad and the private medical
nd. must GO
The battle has gone forward glori-
ously since this declaration. Through
these columns. through vigorous cor
respondence and pamphleteering, and
through unequivocal verbal appeals
by representatives OF The Times be-
fore public bodies In this and other
cities, the Just cause has been waged.
The magazines and trade press OF The
country have quoted The Times liber
ally on this advanced doctrine and
thereby extended the good work.
Local weeklies and medical jour
nails have taken hold and helped. Hun.
dreds OF commendatory words from
advertisers. advertising agencies and
managers. preachers and educators
have been reprinted in these columns.
The Detroit Adcraft club gave official
sanction to the crusade. And-prob.
ably more convincing than all else in
its impression upon offending publish
ers-has been the awarding OF many
much-coveted lines OF business to The
Times mainly upon its clean advertis-
ing policy.
The, extent to which the demand
for clean advertising has taken hold
OF the buyers of newspaper space has
been shown by the amount OF earnest
attention given TO the reform by the
various commercial bodies that have
held their national conventions in this
city this summer. Especially In the
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