Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-11-25
TRADE COMMISSION PROMISES TO
INVESTIGATE ALL COM.
PLANTS FILED.
ACTION WILL BE TAKEN
AND GUILTY PUNISHED
Of Campaign to Secure Honesty in
Observation-Disclosures Clubs
Urge Government to Give Assistance
Grave Abuses to Be Fought.

Washington. Nov. e5.-The federal
trade commission announced that it
will receive and pass upon specific
complaints that business concerns pub
fishing dishonest advertising are guilty
of violation OF the law against unfair
competition.
The announcement was made by
Chairman Davies at the close of a
hearing of arguments by representa-
tives of the Associated Advertisins
clubs urging the commission TO pro-
coed against dishonest advertisers
wherever the wares of the advertise
ments enter into interstate traffic.
Will Pass on Complains.
IL we submit concrete commercial
cases, will they be received by the
commission for hearins?'' asked Her
bert S. Houston. president of the or
ganizavion. al the conclusion of the
hearing Il frankly am asking for in
formation regarding procedure because
we want to do everything TO carry out
our plans TO stamp out dishonest adj
vertising.''
petition in interstate commerce that
are presented TO the trade commission
are carefully considered. and are dis
posed of by ruling or otherwise" Chair
man Davies replied ANY dishonest
method of advertising in interstate
commerce which you allege to be an
unfair method of competition. If sub
mitted 10 US, will DE investigated and
IT,
other complaints are passed upon.
In that situation. whether you are
the complainant or those who are in
jured are the compliments. we would
be glad to have your association In
tervene and file your brief, establish
ing the public interest, which is part
Of the determination which the COM
mission must reach If II takes the mat
those matters in which the pubic is
interested shah be taken up by formal
complaint"
Tells Aims Of Association.
hr. Houston then stated that the as
sion at once number Of complaints
against dishonest advertisers in vari-
Gus parts of the country.
was founded to fight grave abuses In
advertising resulting in injury OF the
public and honest business men, and It
has achieved the enactment in tliTty
two states OF laws against dishonest
advertising. In addition each advertis-
ing club maintains vigilance commit
tee which ferrets out and exposes cases
of dishonest advertising.
IN, he loo ~
we have taken up over 900 cases OF
unfair competition. dishonest advertis-
ing. and fraudulent advertising In
variably we ge to the publisher who
has carried what we believe mislead-
ing statement; we go TO the advertiser.
and we proceed along those conserva-
tive lines preliminary TO prosecution.
which follows if the correction has not
been brought about OF what we feel
is definite violation of the law and
a cutthroat practice
Need Help Of Government.
Mr.. Houston said that while this
work is carried on successfully under
state laws there Is the twilight zone of
interstate commerce IN which the as
sistance Of the trade commission IS
needed. He said also that the organi-
zation is helping the postoffice depart
ment TO run down quack cures and
-rich-quick frauds. which flourish
upon the facilities of the mail SER
vice.
H ] Kenner, executive secretary
Of the national vigilance committee Of
the association. gave specific instances
| Of dishonest advertising. He told how
the organization exposed false repre-
or ch t.- In