The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1921-11-18
Conclusive to Understand
ing of Public Relationship


educative campaign of advertising
covering a period of fifteen months.
has succeeded admirably in bring
ing about a better understanding of
the relationship existing between
the public and the railroads of the
country. He has promoted this
understanding by publishing adj
vertisements in the AIS newspapers
located In the territory served by
Illinois Central lines in communi-
cations that deal with records of SER
vice, urging cooperation on part of
l. c. patrons. new equipment of H.
linois Central lines, comparative
cost of passenger fares over /. G.
lines with railroads in England and
France, improvements of transport
tation conditions since 1920, di-
re ction of attention to grade cross
ing problem, record for Illinois Cen
trail passenger trans being on time.
intelligent discussion of freight rate
reduction. warning of impending
co al shortage, things the public does
not see, appeal to shippers and
consignees, betterment of service by
CO. operation with public how taxes
bear on railway rates, attraetiveness
of railroading as a pursuit III life.
and that the Illinois Central sys-
TENS territory leads the nation in
production.
The discussion of the above in
terelated questions in the open and
broad manner in which Mr. Mark
ham has dealt with them, has
served immensely to breach the lack
of confidence hitherto partially ex
listing on the part of the public to.
wards the railroads and has lessen
ed the measure of prejudice with
which too many of the uniformed
public have heretofore regarded
railroads as we'll as all other cor
porations.
If other public service corpora
tons would initiate Mr.. Markham
by ia king the public into their con-
fidence and exploit the interde-
pendence that exists between them
and the public and disclose the
marg in of profit on capital employ
ed in their operations to be not dis
prOportionate to margins on capital
invested in private pursuits, a bet
ter understand ng would be estab-
lished between these enterprises
and the public and considerable
friction aud prejudice would be
thereby abated.
A handsome pamphlet under the
caption. Public Relations" is be-
ing cOpiously circulated throughout
the fourteen states served by Hi
nois Central lines. The pamphlet
contains the fifteen adve easements
referred to under the captions emu
merated above, and also, a preface
by Mr.. Markham, which expresses
his appreciation of the public's re-
ception of the really valuable in
formation.
1t also contains editorials from
leading newspapers of the country
commencing Mr. Markham's efforts
to bring about a more wholes ONE
understanding of the relationship
that exists between the Illinois Cen
trail Railroad and the people which
it serves.
A summary of the appreciation,
purpose and success of the cam
paign is expressed by President
Markham, himself, in the closing
paragraphs of the preface. which
follow:
The Illinois Central Sy stem
feels indebted to the newspapers.
commercial orga nizations and in
dividuals who have contributed to
the success of its public relations
effort. In the last analysis, sue
cess was made possible only thro'
their fine support.
The central idea which has moved
the Illinois System in the handling
of it's public relations work has been
the same as that which guides its
officers and employees in their daily
efforts-namely, a desire to render
a service of complete satisfaction.
The public IS coming to know
that the Illinois Central System
management welcomes the oppor-
tunity to discuss with its patrons,
either publicly or privately. any
phase of its service, its organiza-
ton, its intercourse with the pub
Lie ar ifa offafra in xrhotovor nor