Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-06-07

convention delegates and visitors we
The welcome address was given by
Mayor Charles W. Jewett and Reuben
H DonneIley, president Of the associated
CLUBS, responded.
Mr. Lees speech was confined largely
TO a recital OF the experience OF the
vigilance committee.
Mayor Jewett characterized the conven-
ton as a great distinction for the city
of Indianapolis.
IT congratulate the members Of the
Associated Advertising Clubs OF the
World upon the fact that you are the
live wires of the business world today.
CITY Is HONORED.
JEWETT SAYS.
Indianapolis is distinctly honored by
your presence here.
1--WE extend to you a welcome unlim-
tied in sincerity and inspired By whole
some, genuine hospitality"
Mr.. Donnelley responded with declara-
ton of his appreciation and the appre-
citation of the members Of the clubs of
the welcome given them.
- Il wish that I were able adequately
to express to you the appreciation OF
your guests of this welcome your
guests, those who are attending the con-
ventiOn of the Associated Advertising
Clubs Of the World" he said.
Il assure you that each one Of us
appreciates it from the bottom Of his
heart.
Il wish to thank those Of your good
citizens who have planned this conven-
ton and have carried out the details.
There has been nothing left undone
that would help us carry forward the
business functions Of this convention,
and there has been nothing left undone
that would add to our comfort.
INDIANAPOLIS CRADLE
OF ADVERTISING TRUTH"
ut is particularly fitting that We
should hold this convention in Indian
apolis, the headquarters, as you know,
Of this association for many years.
This was the cradle Of truth in ad
vertising and Of our vigilance work,
which has carried our profession to the
high place in which It now stands"
In his address Mr.. Lee declared that
advertising is the servant OF the reading
public. first OF all.
- Advertising can not be Of value to the
advertiser. he said, unless and until 1t
IS of value to the public
Advertising must be truthful, and that
advertising which carried a message of
useful goods or services to people who
have need for them, serves a public
need" he said.
1T tells people where to get what they
need. and it suggests new and valuable
things to the public.
ADVERTISING BOON
TO PRODUCTION.
BY increasing demand 1t prompts
quantity production, with resulting
economies.
THE convention, just beginning, must
consider big problems.
This is true because the problems Of
advertising are the problems Of the bust /
ness world, and the worlds problems to-
day are Of 4 size never before approached /.
in the worlds history.
Sixteen years ago, when the Asso- /
ciated Advertising Clubs Of the World /
was formed. advertising was not con /
sidered 4 business.
They called it a game and the men /
who gathered in those early conventions 4
when they discussed anything connected /
with advertising, discussed such ques- /
tons rs whether it was advisable to 4
print in colors and whether direct-by- /
Then, one day arose the question as
to what was the matter with the draw /
ing power Of advertising, and some one
wanted TO know why 1t was, when copy /
was written Offering bargains which /
competitors could not meet, the public /
did not rush in and buy.
They finally decided to appoint a /
committee TO survey the situation and 4
report back to the convention just Whist /
was wrong with the drawing power Of /
advertising.
THAT committee reported that. in /
their opinion, the trouble with the draw
ing power of advertising lay in the fact /
'that it was being so misused by a small, /
but very active. number Of advertisers,
that it was gradually losing reader con-
hdence.
''Then came the question as TO just
what should be done to stop the misuse
Of advertising. to restore reader conf
dence in advertising, and thereafter TO
protect it.
Thereafter business devotes its energy
to trying to have the law repealed
AT the very inception two things
were to be determined: First. were the
associated advertising clubs OF the world
big enough to carry on a great nation
wide movement for advertising truth,
and secondly could they do the work
constructively?
I'm other words, would they not, by
merely calling the attention of the pub
lie to one particularly bad piece of ad-
Eertising, thereby destroy confidence in
all advertising?
These were things which could only
be answered by experience.
Mr.. Lee then went on and told how
lhis committee had met these problems,
citing individual cases in which persons
who advertised falsely were handled and
how the committee discovered that the
advertiser who makes false statements
Is so far from the rule as to be a rare
exception.
perhaps the most valuable part os
the work which we have done lies in
the discovery that business is honest"
he concluded.