Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-04-04
CRITICIZE CRITIC
ANSWER Governor
issue CHALLENGE
Declare Governor Unfair And
Also Incorrect
In His Statements Respecting Adj
vcrtising Being Done by Alumni
Committee Now Raising Funds 20
Build Memorial Gymnasium
ArmOry

Declaring that Governor Percival
p Baxter in his message on The
University of Maine to the S1st
Legislature under date of March 9th
referred incorrectly to the advertising
placed in Maine daily newspapers. in
! the interest of the 100000 campaign
for a memorial gymnasium -armory
and further expressing regret that
| the Governor saw fit to criticise the
, advertising, condemning same as
! lacking dignity" the Memorial Fund
! committee, issued Il statement today
| challenging the Chief Executive on
these points.
Action on the committee came as a
result of Governor Eaxtei's mis-
statement that the advertising was
recently launched by the university
authorities in the daily papers" and
! because the Governor saw fit TO state
that the advertising, which. accord
ing to the committee was printed
solely in the interests of the cam
paiSn for funds and to acquaint the
alumni, alumna, former students and
! friends with the past present and
! future needs of the University of
! Maine and especially the need of the
Gymnasium Armory, lacked dignity
and detracted from the prestige OF
the University"
The committee has issued several
| statements to the various alumni as
sociations. has answered many ques-
, tons raised by alumni and Interested
! friends. which have asked How have
YOU undertaken this advertising cam
paign""
/ The answer has always been given
! that the advertising copy was pre-
! pared under the direction of the COM
mittee. by an alumnus. as advertising
man by profession: contracts We're
| given the daily newspapers in Maine
together with two weekly papers to
run the advertisements and same
| have been paid for from funds per-
sonally subscribed and advanced for
campaign expenses by members Of
the Memorial Fund Committee. The
committee makes it plain that in no
4! way. has the university or its auth
critics or Board Of Trustees had any
thing to DO with this method of pub
| LEFTY and in all advertising copy an
explanation III the form OF a foot note
| has been made. telling tie alumni
that the advertisement in question
was one of a series of weekly talks
prepared by the committee to ac-
| quaint tho alumni with tho needs Of
the university and particularly to
cmpha size the need of the Gymna-
STUN -ArmorX. the ultimate object of
the campaign.
The fund committee objects to the
inference by the Governor that the
alumni lack the loyalty and coopera-
tive spirit shown to their institution.
that accomplishing SO much for pri
Natc.N- owned institutions The
committee briefly answer this allie
cation as to loyalty. by stating Docs
not the fact that we are It the pres
ent time engaged in campaign
which will result in fine Gymna-
stun Armory as a memorial tribute
tn those who save their lives in the
World War to he given to the Uni
Ncrsity from all the alumni, show our
loyalty TO our Alma Mater.
The statement follows:
I'VE, as members Of the University
of Maine Memorial Fund committee.
organized to direct the campaign for
memorial Gymnasium Armory. feel
deeply hurt that Governor Pcrcival p.
Baxter in n message to the Slst
Legislature, under date Of March 81.
1928 stated, under the captain "Ad-
vcrtising." as follows:
have viewed with some misgiv-
'nGs the campaign of advertising re-
Gently launched by the university
authorities in the daily papers. 1t
seems to me that -uch a program
lacks dignity and detracts from the
prestige of the university. The best
advertisement for this university is
the young men and women it has
sent out into the world. The ordi-
nary forms Of advertising are out Of
place here. and I cannot understand
why the university needs full time
publicity man. Its students. it's
Alumni and it's record speak for it
more eloquently than can any
propaganda. no matter how skilfully
conducted. The other colleges in the
State do not feel such a need
we know that we are conducting
this campaign wholly for the love of
ton to ourselves Not only have we
given a great deal of our time. but
also we have pledged our money so
memorial to the AZ University Of
Maine men who gave their lives in
the World War Gymnasium Arm
DRY building, one of the greatest
needs of the institution.
In the first place we challenge the
Governor to prove that our Campaign
advertising was launched by the uni
versity authorities. We alone ara
responsible and not the university
authorities. Again, we question ths