Douglas Island news., 1921-03-11
URGES PUBLICITY
 FOR TERRITORY
Newspaper Man Says That the Ter utory Needs Advertising to
 Dispel Ignorance

Burt M. Mcconnell. associate ed- itor Of Che Literary Digest and who
 visited Alaska last summer. writes
 Che following letter which he ad-
 dresses to Alaskans In general and
 members Of Che Territorial leglala-
 ture in particular:
 "As a sourdough who has been
 from one end of Alaska Co Che other.
 and one who expects sooner or later
 to make Che Territory his home, venture to hope that this session of
 Che legislature win provide for Territorial publicity department. This is a matter in which every Alaskan. particularly Che business man, is vItally interested. and Che need for such a department probably was never SO great as it is today.
 "As one Of thc editors Of The Llt- crary Digest ] have had am excellent opportunity during the past two years Co study tho newspapers Of the entire country. In that time have come to realize how little Is known of Che Territory. Misstatcmcnts Of fact occur in practically every one Of Che hundred or more editorials that have collected In the past year; and it is mo wonder that the people Of Che United States proper have am erroneous idea Of Alaska Most people have am idea that Alas ka Is @ good place to keep away from; that it is ft only for Eskimos and polar bears. They have no idea Of its agricultural mining. fishing and pulp and paper possibilities-to mention only few
 Now. this is an wrong: it is a bad thing for Alaska. And only a campaign Of education in American newspapers and magazines will help matters. You and ! may have the greatest faith In Alaska, but tho people down here are not mind readers. In order to attract settlers and capital Go the Territory the people whom you wish to attract must Doe enlightened by a brisk cam paicn of education.
 "The ignorance prevailing here regarding conditions in Alaska may not Doe the fault Of Alaskans in gem eral or anybody in particular. In fact. much has been printed about Alaska down here In the past few years. but if Che legislature fails to provide funds at Che coming session for Che purpose of advertising Alas ka. Che blame necessarily must fall upon Che heads Of the people Of AL aska Go whom this letter Is ad- dressed
 "You may be surprised Co know that many newspapers have mani Tested desire for good Alaska copy have written several ar- ticlos about Alaska for The Literary Digest Che New York Times and other papers and magazines, and not only have they been readily acccpt- ed but othchr papers and maga- zines have either copied them in their entirety or quoted from them. An Of which merely shows that there is a demand throughout the coun- try for live news stories Of Alaska. might add that ] got my dope mainly from the present publicity bureau.
 "I firmly believe that the members of Che present legislature could take mo step chat would do more to fur ther the interests Of the Territory than would an act providing. say. twenty thousand dollars for a cam poign Of general publicity In the States News and feature stories. as we'll as purely informative articles on Alaska would. ! am sure. be eaten mp by the press. And there never was more opportuno time than the present for such a cam paign. as the general business de- precision is a causing a large num- f.... ..r .......r. Cd. ....r. nom. H.fHr