Friday, February 14, 2020

Editorial in The Independent Refuses Ads For Patent Medicine Infamous Propaganda, Feb. 13, 1920

From the editorial page of The Independent, Elizabeth City, N.C., Feb. 13, 1920

Infamous Propaganda

Of all the infamous propaganda with which the newspapers of the country are filled to-day, the propaganda of the patent medicine crooks is the most damnable. Taking advantage of the public fear of Influenza, the medical vendors are creating a very epidemic of hysteria by filling the newspapers with startling advertisements designed to make everybody feel they will have the Flu and inciting people to fill their systems full of this and that nostrum to save themselves. And the newspapers that take the filthy money of these patent medicine crooks and spread their propaganda are not honest enough or intelligent enough to tell their readers in bold type that the best way to cultivate a serious case of Influenza is to fear it and weaken your powers of resistance by taking drugs.

This newspaper does not print this hysterical, fear-provoking, disease-breeding medical advertising. When The Independent has to stoop to that dirty business to meet its payroll, then The Independent will be for sale to the highest bidder.

There is a drug store in Elizabeth City that is giving the public clean, honest, wholesome and invaluable advise as how to avoid the Flu. The Apothecary Shop in its advertisement in this newspaper says: “Avoid colds and influenza by keeping your feet warm, avoiding exposure to drafts, eating simply and regularly and refraining from worry. Eat fruits and green vegetables to keep the bowels open. Exercise freely.”

That’s the sanest, healthiest and most skillful piece of drug store publicity I have seen. It deals frankly with the public. And that is the kind of advertising that pays. The value of all advertising is measured by the public confidence and good will it creates.


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