The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1922-05-31
OUR SINS OF COMMISSION

~ EDWOOD FALLS has, in the past-ano
some of it the not very far past-commit-
L y ted some grievous sins in the matter OF
billboard ADVERTISING There are a few places
where we'll painted billboard would hide an I'M
slightly view But these are not the places the
erectors of such advertising mediums have select
ed. They have in many cases picked the most
beautiful turn in road or street, the most at
,ractive vista through trees on hilltop, and
the commercializing of natures beauty is SIN
for which they must answer. Civic pride simply
is an unknown quantity to persons OF that Xix
AS YOU motor about Redwood Falls and vicinity
note the sign boards-perchance your own sign
is hiding view that you are really not ashamed
TO have visitors see is feature of your communl-
tv. In the meantime read and digest the follow
ng little article written by Edward S. Martin
for Life.
The Impudent Billboard
"There is a fine vehemence about Joseph
Pennell. When Mr. Pennell talked the other
dav about outdoor advertising all his indlgna-
tion found proper mark. 1t is topic tit
for the ablest scold in commission and since
Whistler is dead, Mr.. Pennel might fairly
claim to be that He called the outdoor adj
V0rtlSerS INV WV
."Thev've stolen the beauty of the country
he said, land a man who steals beauty IS
greater criminal than a man who steals cash.
That is really idea worth circulating.
The billboard and outdoor advertising men
have no conception at all of the truth OF 1t.
They would understand that to throw Nth IN
mans face was an assault on him, but they
do not recognize that they injure him when
thew throw ugliness in his eyes. 10 them op-
lection to assaults on the eyes and dishgure-
ment of the landscape by hideous ADVERTISE
nents is a mere selfish fastidiousness that
hinders lawful business.
The tolerance of the sort OF outdoor ad-
vertisng We have in this country is one OF
the most convenient measures OF our clVlllza-
ton 1t is plain, glaring outrage on beauty
When enough people recognize that 1t Is an
outrage and are sufficiently panied by 1t TO
support measures for it's control, it will dis
appear. Up on the Riverside drive in New
York alongside of the viaduct, there is a
great billboard set up top Of building
and close to the roadway which fits accurate
ly into the throat of the view up the Hudson
river as seen from the Claremont and Grants
tomb 1t is patronized by some of the most
responsible advertisers. So far we know
it is the most notable expression of impud-
ence-the most brutal assertion of contempt
for the public welfare-that has been set up
anywhere in the land. So long as that bill
board remains we have measure of what
the people of New York will tolerate. Last
year some of the outdoor advertising people
painted advertisements across the painted
rocks of the Mississippi, but the descendants
of the Indians who put the pictures on the
rocks, scrubbed the advertisements off while
the paint was still wet.
Expect no consideration or conjunction
from the outdoor advertising people. They
are public enemies, ruthless, impudent, bru-
tai, irresponsible They will do their worst
as long as they can, and in that there is hope,
thoir &c foo bod 70 loctD