The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-09-27
FLOODING THE MAILS
SEEKING PUBLICITY

Every mail carries to the newspaper
offices of Florida column after column
of stuff which is nothing but prop
ganda of publicity for provisional prop
ositions. One day recently brought 20
the office of The Gazette, two columns
regarding the opening of a state col
! lege; three columns of a waterway
convention; something more than a
column of a celebrated tire for auto
mobiles; one column regarding the
sale of stock in an automobile concern;
three columns regarding compilations
of a health board; two columns re-
garding some church work that was
being carried on in Chicago; several
columns pertaining to a secret societys
and a varied assortment of other mat
ter about as valuable and pertinent "a
Florida as directions for making palm
leaf fans would be to the residents OF
Iceland.
The sheets upon which all this copy
is furnished make excellent paper for
the typewriter; in fact, most newspa-
permen utilize it in that way-or make
wrappers of it. Sometime big BUSH
ness and little business viii awaken to
the fact that something for nothing
is difficult to secure-and usually what
is given free of charge is not appre-
ciated by the recipient. Every news
paper of. any prominence whatever is
deluged with propositions OF heres
something to fill up with"-yet few
offers of that sort are followed by the
assertion that I'D like about a hum
bred copies at your regular price to
mail to my friends when you can print
the matter.
No man thinks fer a moment Of go
ing to a lawyer and saying: Here are
a couple of cases which you can take
up for me-merely to show your good
win and to keep your office busy No
man goes to a doctor with the asser-
ton: Il have several cases of illness
in my family. and, as long as you are
not extremely busy, you might drive
out and look after them-merely to
/ keep your hand in" No one goes to a
cobbler with numerous pairs of sorry
looking footwear and hands them in
with the remark: Il notice that you
are at rest for a little while and you
might Just as well fix these in proper
shape for me until You have urgent
work come in" But frequently does
some man approach the newspaperman
-blithely smiling. and saying: Here's
a mighty fine little talk that my wife's
cousins step uncle made before the
poultry club Of CockerviIle. an it's SO
burned funny that you ought to print
It'd. I'm not a regular subscriber. you
know, but If you print II. I'd like to
have you give me a couple Of copies
SOS / can send it to him"
The newspaper is the most valuable
adjunct Of any town or city. 1t an
nually gives publicity worth many
thousands Of dollars. 1t does it cheer
fully It idolizes the infant: it glow
ingly greots the graduate; Il biesses
the bride; it sympathizes with the
sick; it mitigates the miseries Of those
who mourn; and when sorrow comes
to those whose idolized intimates have
passed beyond ephemeral episodes Of
earth the newspaper speaks only most
worthy words to help stifle sorrow.
The newspaper encourages enthusi-
.asm-it boosts business-it enboldens
enterprise-it pushes progress-it urg-
es unanimity-an countenances CO.
operation.
The newspaper should always be
morally upheld and financially appre-
ciated.--kissimmee Valley Gazette.