The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1927-08-26
ATLANTIC CITY NOT AS BLACK AS IT IS PAINTED

~ VIC UllIA IL 10 dbOut tIhC Ah"S -
sentation about Atlantic City is brought to an end. Journal
lists, working on space, have been filling the newspapers
with sensational accounts for months. The more sen
sational the account can be made to appear, the more
space and more pay to the story writer. investigators n"''
take this into consideration. f.
These accounts have affected every department OF
municipal operation including construction OF the con-
vention hall, Boardwalk policing, bond selling and law
enforcement generally. The stories have had altogether
too much prominence in newspapers, both in this country
and abroad.
These stories have been a libel upon the fair name Of
Atlantic City. Only just the other day one OF the great
press associations was misled into the error OF reporting
that 81 indictments were handed down by the grand Jury
in connection with Investigations made by a research
league. As a matter of fact there is not the least evidence
that a single one of the II indictments had any origin from
research league Investigations. The findings of the grand
jury we're in the regular order of criminal business arising
not only from Atlantic City, but elsewhere in the county.
The merchants of Atlantic City complain that bust
ness is dull and they are endeayoring to stimulate business
by a week of merchandising. Business in Atlantic lily is
more or less a barometer of business in the surrounding
localities. If Atlantic City wants business, the best way for
its stores, hotels and wholesale business houses to get
business is to begin at once to restore the good feeling winch
the country would like to hold toward the Worlds Play
ground, but which has been seriously affected by the I'M
wholesome exaggerated accounts which have been broad
casted by its newspapers and newspapermen.
We are not altogether certain that the sort of pub
Hcity which Atlantic City has been getting has the full
support OF those who are encouraging the Investigations
and research. Just at this time it is impossible to measure.
the harm that has been done in the minds OF men and
women with families who would like to make not only a
weekend stay in Atlantic City, but a longer and more
profitable visit to the city. Excursionists and motor
crowds are all right for a day or two, but the marvellous
equipment provided in Atlantic City for entertainment of
people from all over the world should have more patron
age than ii is said to be getting.
Ii harmful publicity has overrun the facts it is time
for the investigators to look about them and see the
destruction of good will which their publicity men have
wrought.
Atlantic City thrives upon good will and good feeling.
No man or woman is going to bring a son or daughter into
any atmosphere that causes them to be worried.
Atlantic City hasn't any such conditions. The back
ground Of Atlantic City is high responsibility and home
loving. Man, woman, boy and girl may walk its streets
and its Boardwalk with perfect comforts and without the
suggestion of molestation. Likewise may they patronize
its hotels and stores. Every conceivable effort, every
thought is directed to give its visitors the kind of enter
tainment the visitor will enjoy. Ii there is anything Of
higher class than its hotels, piers, theatres and shops the
real boosters in Atlantic City will lose no time in getting
it even from the end of the world.
If any naughty children in Atlantic City are to be
spanked, let the spanking be done in the woodshed in the
good old fashioned determined way without mussing up
the calm and enjoyable atmosphere of the parlor with
loose talk.
1t is clear at this time where the burden of re-establish-
ing good will and good feeling toward Atlantic City rests.