The Washington herald., 1915-11-24
COLUMBUS URGES
FALSE "AD' Law
Congress Will Be Asked for
Statute if Trade Body
Denies Ruling.
KELLEY PLEADS FOR IT
Chicago Editor Reads Letters from
Publishers Denouncing Wrong Ad-
vertisements as Unfair Competition.

Elimination of false and misleading
advertisements, either by action of the
Federal Trade Commission. or by act
of Congress. was asked of the commits
sion yesterday by business men of
Washington. Local business interests
were represented by Charles J. Column
bus. secretary OF the Retail Merchants
Association. who appeared before the
commission at its afternoon session.
Secretary Columbus told of efforts
made by his organization to better ex-
listing conditions. principally its in
dorsement of a proposed statute known
as the Printers Ink Model Law, be-
lieved to be the widest in scope and
most efTectuaI of any draft dealing
with false advertising.
Advertising Absolutely Necessary.
Take advertising out of business
and there will be no business" he de-
clared.
He told the commission II It ruled
1t had no power to remedy conditions.
Congress would be urged to enact the
Printers Ink model draft
Mr.. Columbus echoed arguments pre-
scented at the morning session by six
men prominently identified with adver-
Using throughout the the country. Rep
resentatves OF the Associated Advertis-
ing Clubs of the World. whose club MEM
for advertising. declared they believed
it was within the province Of the COM
mission to regulate such unfair COM
petition" as false advertising.
Herbert S. Houston, of New York,
president of the Associated Advertis-
ing Clubs, outlined the abuses of ad-
vertising and said his organization
was instrumental in passing laws In
thirty-two States for curbing Of the
difficulty.
Advertising is a strong power in
business and should be protected by
the Federal Trade Commission. This
association believes dishonest adver-
Using is one of the worst forms OF
unfair competition and asks that the
commission rule IL has Jurisdiction
over such cases." he said.
Unfair Competition, Says Kelley.
James Kelley, editor of the Chicago
Herald and one of the best known
publishers in the country, read let
tiers from advertisers of national
prominence. who expressed the belief
that misleading advertising was a per
nicious form OF unfair competition. He
said, dishonest advertising decreases
the value of honest advertising and
denies an honest advertiser the bene-
fits to which he is entitled by buying
advertising space. He suggested the
designation by the commission of
man to investigate cases which should
Io brought to its attention.
II J. Kenner. executive secretary OF
the Associated Advertising Clubs
dealt with specific cases of deceptive
advertising. He mentioned one case
where shoes alleged to be of sole
leather were made of pasteboard. an
other of a watch selling for $3.50 with
celIuloid jewels. He declared the
Hostoffice Department was doing good
work and that the pure food laws
we're strong. but neither was as effec-
tive as a system of stopping fraudu-
lent advertising at its beginning.
SPEAKS of Alien "Ad" Laws.
William Il. Ingerson. chairman of the
national commission Of the association,
smoke of the German and Swedish laws
dealing with false advertising. E. T.
Meredith, an editor of Des Moines, SAID
5000 cases OF dishonest advertising could
h" placed before the commission in thirty
days. He asked the commission to take
jurisdiction in the matter, as did Charles
H. Porter president Of the Advertisers
association, of Chicago.
Tine commission announced at the con-
clusion Of its hearing il would be glad
to receive and investigate complaints OF
flase advertising. 1t made no announce
ment as to its policy, but the 1act tnat
1t invited complaints and declared its
intention to investigate them Is taken
as Indicating its viewpoint
Secretary Columbus, speaking for the
Retail Merchants Association of Wash
inCton. represented committee from the
organization COMPOSED OF Joseph Berbe-
rich. chairman; NJ. A. Leese. Anton
Stephan. Washington Topham, Julius
Lansburgh and Sidney West.
Through the Want Columns, farm
ers can sell their surplus products d.
rect to consumers at a better profit"
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