Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-02-23
Editorial Comment
The Publicity Eund

(fortand Press l1erdld)
The time approaches for preparing
the warrants for the town meetings
which are usually held in this State
during the first weeks of March. It
is of the greatest importance that
in as many of these warrants as
possible an article appears making
an appropriation of money to be de-
voted to advertising the State.
Last year little more than 5000
was raised in this way by the con-
trlbutions of a comparatively small
number of cities and towns. Portland,
the largest city in the State. made
the biggest appropriation. It's City
Council, with the approval of the
majority of the people Of this city,
having set aside $4,000 for this
purpose. This was considered at the
time to have been a very generous
contribution and it was thought that
IT would inspire other cities and
towns of Maine TO follow the ex-
ample Portland had set and do as
much as they felt they could afford
to do.
While the response to the appeal
Tor contributions was ignored by
some cities and towns last year it
has been generally believed that
this was because the people did not
comprehend what was planned and
were not convinced that a publicity
campaign would prove of value. But
the results secured by this effort of
last Summer must have carried con-
Nlctlon to many Of these people and
II has been felt that even those
VINO opposed the making Of appro-
prlauons last year would be earnest
advocates of doing so this year.
lt Is true, as has been stated In
some quarters, that there is no posi-
tive evidence that can be presented
70 prove just how many people the
publicity campaign attracted tn
Maine. There is no way by which
an accurate check can be made. But
there Is evidence that there were
more automobiles bearing out of the
state license plates In Maine last
Summer than ever before and that
many of the States largest hotels
did greater business last Summer
than they had for many years. II
is fair to assume that this was due
TO the advertising which was done.
The Maine Publicity Bureau has
reported that it had more letters of
inquiry last Summer than it had ever
received in any one season and it
also reports that there were more
automobile tourists who applied at
It's office for information than 1t had
known In any other season. The
railroads, too, report a larger number
of passengers than they had carried
since the automobile came into gem
eral use. 1t is therefore fair to as
sumo that the States publicity cam
paign had much to do with this and
it would seem to be convincing
proof that excellent results were
secured for the money which was
spent
It must be remembered that while
all the advertisements relating TO
Maine which We're published before
and during the vacation season were
chiefly devoted to directing attention
to the States attractions as a sum-
mer playground, all of these adver-
tisements also referred to the indus
trial opportunities which exist here.
Industries cannot be secured by
newspaper advertising alone. Al
least it is not believed that this is
the way to go about securing them.
But nevertheless more interest has
been displayed in Maine by indus
tries since the publicity campaign
was commenced than has been
known in many years so it is fair
to assume that general publicity of
this kind is beneficial.
Now that the advertising campaign
has been started 1t should not be
allowed TO stop for lack of funds.
Other states have been 80 greatly