of advertising clubs pledged to the slogan, “ the truth in poli
tics.” 24 Within the various states political advertising was
effectively used.25
It was significant that national political advertising in 1920
was much less extensive than it had been during the preceding presidential campaign , significant in that the result of the elec tion seemed a foregone conclusion and advertising therefore
unnecessary for both of the two great parties. One of the most significant campaigns involving political action , although economic in the nature of the question at issue, was carried on in 1917 between George W . Perkins as chairman
of the New York City food supply committee and the agricul tural societies of New York State . Through advertisements of
Saturday, August 18 , the chairman gave definite information to the citizens of the city concerning the food bill advocated by
Governor Whitman and directed his advertisements against unscrupulous food speculators and other selfish interests . These
were followed on Monday by advertisements addressed to the citizens of the state and appealing especially to the up -State advertisement in five hundred newspapers in all sections of the country . New York Times, October 31, November 5 , 1916. John Wanamaker was stated by the Democratic National Committee to be responsible for a full
page advertisement appearing in the leading papers in the largest cities of Pennsylvania , New Jersey, New York , Connecticut, Delaware, and West Virginia . Advertisements appeared over the signatures respectively of George Harvey, Thomas W . Lawson , George W . Perkins, and Amos Pinchot. These all appeared in New York dailies. 24 The advantages of such clubs were set forth by a group of Chicago
advertising men who declared that they “ would give to the Republican party a permanent organization of trained publicity experts who will for the first time apply to politics the samemerchandizing principles that are applied
to successful business enterprises.” — New York Tribune, July 23, 1916 . 25 In New York a series of nearly thirty advertisements issued by the Non - Partisan League for Good Government brought detailed and exhaustive
charges against the administration of Governor Whitman. These ran from October 9 to November 7 , 1916 , and constitute the most explicit arraignment of a public official through advertisement that has been noted . — The omis
sion of one in thenumbered series seemed to indicate a fear on the part of the advertisers that it carried libellous matter.
In Ohio the Republican candidate for governor carried on his campaign by means of display advertising and with the help of “ one of the greatest advertising men in America . This man has made a certain paint a household
word. We're advertising to the people of Ohio my brand of politics .” —
United Press despatches, July 6 , 1916.
