The Detroit times., 1909-05-01
CAMPAIGN BEGINS
FOR CITY or CLEAN
NEWSPAPERS
Adcraft Club To Put Forth Its Ell
forts in Attempt To Bring All
the Detroit Dailies Into Ac-
cord With The Times.
II Successful the Centenary of Found
ing of First Michigan Newspaper
Will Mark New Epoch.

@"O SchtchdIy OF the rounding OF
the nrst Michigan newspaper will be
celebrated In Detroit on June 8, 1909.
III movement now under way bears
It's hoped-for result, this centennial
occasion, In addition to other striking
features. will see all the dailies of De-
troit in accord with The Times in the
matter OF clean advertising.
That will be q centenary exhibit
worth while-the pleasing demonstra
ton that In hundred years the en-
tire daily press Of Detroit has attained
unto decency in its advertising de-
partments.
For several years now The Times
has battled alone for the elimination
or NTH and frauds from its advertis-
Ing columns. or the remaining three
dailies OF Detroit the News and Free
Press have been the filthiest In this re-
speet, and the most constituencies
snare to the feet OF trustful readers.
AT one time the Journal took high
ground In this cause, cleaning up its
own columns and carrying on a Wig
orous campaign for more rigorous leg
islation against the Quacks who fill
newspapers with their nasty announce
ments. The Journal, unfortunately.
has opened Its columns again to this
class OF advertising, although 1t does
not run the larger intsallments of
the abominable stun that pollutes the
pages OF the two older papers.
But IL makes no discrimination In
Investment and promotion advertise
ments.
AS with the News and Free Press,
everything Is acceptable that brings In
the money.
Among weekly papers The Times
tight for honesty and decency I'm adj
vertising has inspired hearty support.
The Saturday Night has been a stout
advocate Of this reform In the two
years 1t has been In the field. The
Michigan Presbyterian has added its
voice to the cause. The Journal Of the
Michigan State Medical society has
printed pointed. ndtfosials on the sub
ject and has been unspaYlng In lts
criticism Of the offending older papers
OF the city.
The Times has printed commenda-
lions or It's policy from merchants,
clergymen, educators and others by the
pagefull But 1t has remained for the
Adcraft club to take the first step In
the direction OF making public senti-
ment effective. At its last two Satur.
day luncheons strong addresses were
given by c. A. Brownell the we'll
known advertising agent, and Frank
ID. Taylor, president OF the Elliott-Tay.
lor-Woolfenden Co., In vigorous disap
prevail OF the offensive matter admitted
regularly to the pages of a majority
OF Detroit's dailies. to the discredit
Of the press and the impairment of ad-
vertising generally.
Stirred by these expressions from
men who are handling advertising on
large scale, the Adcrafters voted to
appoint a committee to wait upon the
publishers with the hope Of persuad-
ing them that newspaper usage can no
longer be relied upon to sanction such
a fragrant offense against decency. An
appeal OF this sort recently had the
effect OF prompting John r. Mclean
to renovate the columns OF the Gin
cinnati Enquirer.
William r. Orr, president OF the
Adcraft club, who has the appointment
OF the committee, told The Times to-
day that his selections would be an
nounced In the near future.
'I am giving the matter the most
careful consideration" said Mr.. Orr.
"as I realize the mission ia an I'M
portant and delicate one. think a
friendly Intervention OF this nature
should be In the hands Of men who by
reason of their public spirit and largs
investment in newspaper space have
reasonable warrant for urging upon
the newspapers a reform that is bound
TO rebound to their own advantage as
we'll that OF their readers and adj
yertisers."