Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1926-09-15
FLoRIDA's PUBLICITY GESTURE
TO THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.

tumn. She is sending on a visit to
thirty of her sister states, five trains
of ten cars each. laden with her pro-
ducts, her resources, proofs of her
advantages and motion pictures of
her scenery in what is regarded as
the biggest and most important direct
demonstration ever made IN the his
tory of the country These trains
will be on tour 100 days and visit
700 cities. Preceding this, most
interesting campaign of publicity is
now beng conducted throughout the
State of Florida, arousing the inter-
est of the people in the Faith in
Florida Clubs, which are sponsoring
the Exposition, and of which Hon.
John W Martin. Governor of the
be preceded by staff of the best
and most experienced advance men
in the country.
In commenting on the movement,
the New York Times says, with
Commander Wells Hawks of New
YORK - the publicity helm Of this
project, II Is bhyiaps that the EXPOSE
fion will utilize al channels of adj
vance action"
Commenting On the Importance
and publicity power of the EXPOSE
ton, William II. Rankin, head of one
of the largest advertising concerns
in the world, has written to the press
of Florida. "Wells Hawks is the best
man in America to handle this cam
paign." -
= T"- more than twenty-five years,
Wells Hawks has been the eeuntry's
outstanding publicity man. There
are few things that he has not
handled, and he is known wherever
a newspaper is printed. He was
selected to handle this big move
ment for Florida's publicity by Bird
M. Rbinson, president of the Ameri-
can Shortline Railroad Association.
who originated the Florida Exposition
on Wheels, and is its director gen.
eral. Trained and experienced in
every branch of newspaper work and
the show business, and an accom-
plished writer, Commander Hawks
has thrown into this big job all his
energy and enthusiasm, which, to
those who know him, means about
twenty hours day work. He has
been in Florida for year, and feels
like a native.
Wells Hawks first came into prom
inence as the Publicity Director in
New York and London for the late
Charles Frohman, handling all of his
stars and theatres. Following this,
he handled the New York Hippo
drome, Ringing Brothers Circus, and
for more than a dozen years has
looked after the interests of Barron
Collier and Senator William H. Rey-
nolds in Coney Island For several
years he was the personal and con-
fidential representative of Mary Pick
ford, and has also directed some of
the biggest motion picture cam
paigns. In political way, he handled
the nationwide speaking campaigns
of Governor james NJ. Cox and Hon.
John w. Davis, Chen they were
presidential candidates. For sew
eral years he was the eastern repre-
sentative for American Legion pub
licity. For the Metropolitan Opera
Company. he handled the Russian
Ballet on its tour of the country. He
did the American publicity for How
ard Carter, discoverer of the, tomb
of King Tut, and later, was the
press agent in this country for Cap
tain Roald Amundsen. the Arctic ex-
plorer.
From 1917 to 1922. he was the In
formation Officer of the United
States Navy, having first had charge
of the advertising for recruiting
Entering the service as Junior
Lieutenant, and after service in
Washington, with the Fleet, and
overseas, he came out as a Lieuten-
ant Commander. The President re-
Gently commissioned him as spec
ial information officer of t. S. Naval
he al Do
As such, he was recalled to active
duty in June to assist in organizing
the United States Navy exhibit to the
Sesqui-Centennial.
Commander Hawks came to Flori-
da last autumn with Arthur Voegt-
lin, of the New York Hippodrome
fame, for whom he handled the
Fountania Theatre, Spanish Village
and Ponce de Leon spectacle at
Miami.