Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-08-12

the city or oakland IN your state.
The letter is self-explanatory. We
can only reiterate that the action
we request seems to us the only
proper and sensible thing to do. We
will appreciate any comment you
may care to make.
Yours very truly,
OAKLAND CHAMBER OF CON-
MERGE. .
Oakland Chamber Of Commerce.
Oakland, Calf, July 31st, 1916.
We are urgently constrained to seek
Importance to this city. 1t involves
merely simple demonstration Of neigh
forty friendship that will be always for
munity's generosity.
Briefly. we are going to ask you IN the
kindliest spirit to surrender to US the
cheerful compliance will facilitate greatly
the proceedings we are about to Initiate
before the proper authorities.
The sign "OAKLAND' has been over
our place Of business since 1920, and since
then our establishment has grown to be
ffhe largest in the world using that name.
We now have 235. 675 population, which
will soon be increased to 100000 under
plans for consolidation with neighboring
communities.
The international fame we have achiev-
ed because Of our phenomenal industrial
and business growth must naturally pre-
sent a perplexing obstacle to your own
deserved recognition.
we take cordial pleasure in suggest
ing this obvious solution for your prob
lem and sincerely trust you will give
our request the favorable and prompt at
tention we feel 1t merits.
Yours very truly.
Oakland Chamber Of Commerce.
BY JOSEPH c. GAME.
Manager Director.
We And % "Oakland' post offices in
the United States, besides Oakland
Beach, Oakland City and Oakland
Mills, more than half the states pre-
senting each an Oakland in the U. S.
Postal Guide. Thus the modest re-
quest Of Oakland, Calf, is only ex-
ceeded in the size Of the undertaking
to convert 'em all to the Pacific coast
city's view Of the matter. But out
there where the sun says good night
to Uncle Sam, they are most astute
advertisers; If they can be talked about
they are happy, and without the small
est, thinnest shadow Of doubt the in
spiration Of this surrender-to-us appeal
was the scheme Of a fertile board of
trade brain to get Oakland talked
about.
AS rule we throw this publicity
stuff, bag and baggage. into the waste
basket, but occasionally we humor
them to let our readers see the clever
ness Of the advertising schemes adopt
ed. Indeed the Oakland board Of trade
letters are only part Of the plan to
get into the limelight. for before the
board Of trade literature had reached
US a California citizen had sent the
following letter of protest to another
Maine paper:
! Editor Enterprise,
Oakland. Maine.
Dear Sir:
see in the local papers that Oakland,
Cal is asking you to change your name.
AS former resident whose heart strings
are tied to the home place. wish to raise
L
behalf of those to whom the name Of our
| own and our fathers birth place is sa-
; cred to reply to this presumptuous re-
quest in scathing terms. Next after coun-
try and state comes love Of home and
the name of Oakland, Maine. Is too Deep
| ly engraved on some Of our hearts to be
easily erased at the impudent behest Of a
stranger.
! Yours truly,
JARED BROWN.
| San Francisco, Cal,
| Aug 2, 1916
! The plan Is unique, to say the least
and, after all. why Motif the other
Oaklands are willing? But to our
mind the matter would hardly be
settled by the city and town fathers.
The California Oakland does not inter-
est itself in this small detail, however,
for its object is to get the folks" to
talking in about 80 states (and as many
more as may take notion to butt in).
Adopting the plan, we shall expect
our genial governor to petition the
SO, 1893 1893 Americans to surrender to
him exclusive use Of the words Safety
First" for private use among certain
patrons Of Democracy.
IN consonance with the presumption
Woodrow Wilson might ask for per-