Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 April 1912 — FAKE ADVERTISING A CRIME [ARTICLE]

FAKE ADVERTISING A CRIME

A Clear Conscience the Reward for Publisher Who Refuses to Print Deceptive Matter. _ln an address to the students of the Northwestern University School of Contmerce A. P. Johnson, advertising manager of the Chicago Record-Her-ald, said: ( '“The greatest drawback in the development of modern-day advertising comes from the same source that undermines all other professional and commercial enterprises—the fakers, schemers and promoters of fraudulent undertakings that depend upon advertising to accomplish a dishonest purpose. . “The publisher of any medium hav-, Ing a general circulation, whose editorial columns are read and accepted in good faith by the public, whose opinions on the political and economic questions of the day are read and believfed, and who, at the same time, accepts and prints advertising which he knows is fraudulent, deceptive and mlsrepres’enting, commits the greatest social and civil crime ever perpetrated on a civilized community. “Refusing ‘fa.ke’ advertising does not pay in a direct increase of legitimate advertising, nor does it signify that a paper pursuing such a course should expect any great material reward, other than the satisfaction that comes to any one who deals on the square with his feliowmen.”