The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-03-19
WOULD CORRECT.
DISHONEST" lads"
FROM INSIDE
Jas. SchermerhOrn Says Mer-
chants and Publishers Should
Purge Newspapers
DELIVERS ADDRESS
BEFORE RETAILERS
Declares For MOnteith Bill, But
Points Out One COwardly
Section; Measure Endorsed

The retailers bureau OF the Board
OF Commerce held Its annual meet
ing in the Griswold house. Tuesday
evening, and nearly 100 Detroit mer-
chants were present.
The principal speaker was James
Schermerhorn. publisher Of The De-
troit Times. who talked on the clean
advertising movement.
The doctrine of service for service
is rapidly replacing the old ideas OF
business in this country" said Mr..
Schermerhorn." Business men are
beginning to recognize more and
more that they can do their COM
munity the most good by making
their business benefaction, by ap-
plying patriotism, even religion TO
their business. by serving humanity
through It."
THE movement for honesty In ad-
vertising has been gathering mo-
mentum for several years. and II has
been recognized by nearly all Of the
great organizations OF business men
who are interested In advertising.
It is no longer considered good bus
mess to despoil and hoodwink the
unsuspecting by fraudulent financial
and medical Advertisements and by
dishonest advertisements Of merchan-
disc We have come to recognize
that advertising integrity 10 right
and must be upheld.
And yet the local advertisers are
largely responsible for the dishon-
est advertising that appears. A lead
dollar Is not dangerous except In
company with good dollars. Good
advertising makes vicious advertis-
ing effective. You cannot consistent
ly call the police to arrest your boon
companions. As long az you dwell
side by side with the dishonest ad-
vertisements in your newspaper you
cannot be very much shocked or al
fronted by them
Mr.. Schermerhorn then took up
the Monteith bill which Ia pending
before the legislature.
81 am Of the opinion" he said.
that this problem should be correct
ed from the inside. by advertisers
and publishers. Still this IL q good
measure with the exception OF the
cowardly lines which exempt the
publisher from its provisions. and 1t
might afford q measure Of protection
In keeping everyone on the same
| basis.
THE American newspapers have
for years been working toward high
er ideals In respect to advertising.
and have recognized that the shame
full betrayal Of the trust OF their
readers and subscribers must be
stopped.
Nothing could be done in Detroit
which would establish the leadership
Of its merchants more securely than
to make It the first city In which all
the advertising statements In a news
paper ere guaranteed, stamped with
good faith. Business literature
should be made az readable and de-
pendable as the great literature OF
the past"
Following the talk by Mr.. scher-
merhorn the retailers unanimously
adopted a resolution favorang the
Monteith bill, and each member was
urged to write to his representative
In Lansing asking for support for 1t.
Charles r. Mann, president Of the
UuTeau, dCtcQ o6 Shoti o4oAA Va Sh0
meeting He reviewed the work OF
the bureau for the year, Including
the charity soliciting arrangement.
the action against itinerant vendors.
the early Christmas shopping cam
paign, the agreement upon one week
for spring openings, and the possi-
bilities OF the parcel post.
! c. A. Grinnell spoke on . made-in-
Detroit week to attract shoppers to
the city, with displays OF Detroit
made goods In all the retail stores.
The nominating committee con-
sisting of r. Fl. Weber. James r.
Thorburn and c. A. Grinnell reported
the names Of ten directors TO BE-
elected for two years and one for one
year and they were unanimously
elected az follows:
| r. j. Hickey. II. A. Geisslsr, z.
Himelhoch. w. p. Emery. L. B. King.
G. r. Mann. G. A. Grinnell. Henry
Blackwell. Walter Towar. Ernest
Kern and L. A. Jarvis. with J. T.
rhorburn to serve one year to Ill 4
vacancy.