The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-21
NEWSPAPERS AID GREATLY IN SALE OF WAR SURPLUS
Age-Herald Commended
 For Assistance Given st To War Department

The Age Herald has received from the surplus property committee of the United States War Department check for 5 cents, which brings to mind the part this and other newspapers in the various parts of the country have played in aiding the government to dis pose of its surplus war material since hostilities ceased. The check repre- sents The 'Age-Herald's pro rata share of the surplus remaining from contri- buttons made by this and other news papers to assist in making successful sale of war materials.
 John W. Weeks, Secretary of War, has written letter of appreciation for the manner in which the sale was con ducted and The Age-Herald has re- ceived from Mason Britton, chairman, and A. c. Pearson, vice chairman of the committee the following:
 After the close of the World war the War Department of the United States government found itself in pos session of several billions of dollars worth of surplus material. The great problem was to dispose of this without demoralizing industry and with the best possible return to the government
 
 Committee Of Publishers
 s'There was organized a central com mittee of publishers known as the sur plus property committee, which mas performed a necessary function in that it served as advisor to the war depart ment in merchandising this surplus ma terial, and supplied copy men to the department for preparing and distri- outing the advertising to the papers which had been chosen by the depart ment itself.
 "The work of the surplus property committee has now been brought to n close and while at times there was a considerable deficit on its books, it very fortunately closed with small surplus which we have pro-rated back to the publications contributing to the fund since the surplus property committee began their prorata of this surplus. Tue accounts have been duly audited by Ernst and Ernst and we are happy to inclose you this remittance.
 Check For B Cents
 ''The results of this advertising cam paign have been most remarkable, pro ducing for the government hundreds or millions more than they would have reaI1ZeO TOT tue HI "AE way"
 Secretary Weeks Letter
 Secretary Weeks has written to Chairman Britton as follows;
 My dear MT. Britton: The conclu- sion of your committees publicity work with the war department brings to close four and one-half years of success fnl co-operation in the liquidation ot war surplus. This aid recalls to mlnd the timely assistance of the business press and newspapers of the country Tn the governments wartime advertising projects.
 Through the operation of the sur plus property committee, the govern ment has been enabled to deal direct with the many publishers concerned without sacrificing the service usually furnished. In lieu of individual serv- ice from many publications the com mittee. acting for all and proratlng the expense, placed at the disposal or the department the very best talent avail able, saving the government the entire cost of maintaining an expensive stail of technical advertising and mercnandlse experts, which otherwise would nave been necessary. In addition to thls service, the government has lnvarlaoly received the lowest earlco A"'c corded commercial advertisers without the necessity of entering into formal contracts for space.
 'The results during the period of the committees existence and co-opera' tion with the war department are a signal tribute to the power of well dl' rected advertising. The department program, ably carried out with your as sistance, has been large factor Tn the t wide and equitable distribution of the enormous stocks of war surplus. Satis factory recovery prices to the govern ment and lower prices to the consuming public are an indication of the sound ness of the methods employed and then effectiveness.
 a"Please convey to the committee an' to the publishers it represents my ap preciatiOn of their assistance.
 RECOMMENDED MOVIES.