Arizona republican., 1922-06-12
HONEST ADVERTISING
CONVENTION THEME

Representing the Arizona RepuD-
lican. Wesley E. Knorp is present to-
day in Milwaukee. in attendance on
the convention of the Associated Ad-
vertising Clubs of the World.
Truth in advertising, subject of
the special care and investigation OF
the vigilance committee of the club,
was the matter of special Importance
that, according to the program, was
to be reported upon early this week.
The convention was scheduled to get
down to business Monday. The work
of the vigilance committee has the
special intent of protecting people
everywhere, but especially in the
rural communities from fraudulent
advertising, particularly in connec-
ton with financial projects.
The convention opened with great
mass meeting in the Milwaukee
auditorium, and will last five days,
closing on Thursday with business
session. During a part of the time.
the delegates will be divided into
groups, meeting for the discussion OF
problems peculiar TO the various
kinds of advertising.
Shows a Healthy Growth
The advertising association, it de-
veloped through several reports
made public yesterday. has enjoyed
a healthy growth during the year,
despite the fact it has been called
hard year" The individual men,
bership has grown from 23.9s6 to
25,S72 There are now 255 local ad-
vertising clubs in the organization.
against 213 year ago and $40 Sus-
tanning Members, against s14 year
ago.
Some of the departments of the
National Advertising Commission,
which is a part of the organization,
have shown splendid growth. The
number of newspapers, for example,
represented in the National Associa-
ton of Newspaper Executives. has
increased from 81 to 247, while $40
banks are now represented in the
Financial Advertising Association, as
against 4S9 year ago. In the mean
time, a retail department, with 26o
members, has been organized
The growth of the truth-in -adver-
tising movement has been one of the
most striking features of the year s
record. The number of better bust
ness bureaus Qocal vigilance COM
mittees where paid secretaries handle
the work. has increased from 30 to
SO, while the annual budgets for the
support of this work have been
raised from 100000 to s450,000.
Protection Against Frauds
The extension of the protective
work of the committee to the rural
districts is summed up as follows in
the report of the National Vigilance
committee:
Interest in the Before You Invest
Investigate movement has been
fostered in many quarters. 1t has
extended to state farm bureau fede-
rations. In Ohio where the fedora
tion has co-operated on a practical
basis with the five Better Business
commissions in Ohio cities and with
Vigilance headquarters at New York,
service has been rendered which has
saved hundreds of thousands of dol
lars to farmers and snall-town in
vestors. 1t has been proposed In
Ohio that a state Better Business
commission be formed which through
an organization in each county. and
in cooperation with newspapers
banks and merchants and the farm
bureau federation, would reach hun
dreds of thousands of people outside
of the large urban communities with
information of a protective and con-
fidence- building character.
During the year." the report con-
tinues, emphasis has been placed on
constructive service to help legiti-
mate business find and adhere tc
high standards of advertising selling
practice. Vigorous action has beer
taken against many frauds. botf
financial and commercial
In the handling of hundreds oi
complaints in the automotive fiel6
involving the advertising of motor
cars, tractors, trucks, tires and many
different kinds of accessories, the
committee has been especially vigi-
liant The Rubber Association oi
America recently went on record
strongly endorsing the committee's
work.