Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-11-29
Scare Ads Stressinq
Shortage Of Goods Hit
In Commerce Bulletin
Hundreds Of Advertisers
Promoting War Effort,
Statement Adds
BY the Associated Press

| BY the Associated Press.
The Commerce Department said
in its weekly bulletin yesterday that
hundreds of advertisers" were
promoting public welfare, but that
some short-sighted retailers were
hlndering the war effort by using
scare" advertisements urging the
public to buy merchandise because
OF expected shortages or rationing.
The text of the statement, headed
Scare Advertising is Blot on Rec
ord on the Information Industry"
follows:
The Department of Commerce
has long championed the cause of
advertising.
In articles appearing In the
departments weekly publications,
Domestic Commerce and Foreign
Commerce, and in speeches by its
officials the necessity for advertis-
ing In wartime has been stressed
And the important role advertisers
have played and are playing in
promoting the war effort has been
consistently noted
Indeed, the attitude of the De-
partment of Commerce has been a
vigorous refutation of the carelessly
voiced claim that Government is
| against all advertising. And this
attitude is not new Rather it stems
| from years-old conviction that the
informative type of advertising Is a
necessary tool for the exchange of
goods-for commerce.
Scare" Efforts Assaulted.
The department, however, views
as decidedly harmful and un-Amer-
lean all scare" advertising. Pro-
noted by some short-sighted retail
ers, it is actively rendering the war
effort.
Such advertisements urge people
to buy merchandise because of ex-
pected shortages or impending ra-
tioning.
They build up unnecessary fears
ana send a panicky public rushing
to stores. They cause needless buy
Ing. They foster boarding. They
speed the day OF actual shortages.
Most important, this scare type
OF advertising robs our fighting
forces Of funds needed to buy guns
and other munitions. These funds
bring temporary prosperity to scare
advertisers and permanent loss to
our War savings bond campaign.
The National Association of Bet
ter Business Bureaus fully recog-
nlzes the evils of scare advertising
and is waging a country wide drive
against 1t. In this, the association
has been commended by Leon Hem
derson. administrator of the Office
OF Price Administration, who re-
Gently wrote:
Association Congratulated.
This is most valuable project.
Scare advertising is cheap device
used to swindle the public by Great
ing false stimulation of purchasing"
The Department of Commerce
congratulates the National Associ-
alton Of Better Business Bureaus.
The committee in. charge of the
project is promoting a much-needed
house cleaning in truly democratic
way.
Todays advertiser has a tremen-
| dous opportunity in this war. He
can be a leader for good. He can
mold minds in the right direction.
And through the medium of news
papers. magazines, radio, direct mail
or outdoor advertising, he can
dramatic to the public the part
it must play in helping win the
victory.
yes, the advertiser can do all
these things And praise be, literally
hundreds of advertisers are doing
them every day. They stand as an
enlightened information industry
functioning for the common good"