Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-12
SERIOUS OBJECTIONS.
Some Adverse Views on the Accom-
mOdations in Pittsburg
FOR A BIG NATIONAL CONVENTION.
A Prevalent Impression That the Plan Is
lmpracticable.
SOME PEOPLE THINK 1T is FEASIBLE

The attempt to secure the next National
Republican Convention for this city is still
creating some talk, but the general belief,
though expressed with regret, is that Pitts
burg has not the hotel accommodations for
such multitude as the convention would
bring here. John Chalfant, who is one of
the committee appointed by Mayor Gourley
10 press Pittsburgs claims for the couyen-
ton upon the National Committee, said
yesterday:
my views on this subject are pos
tive and can be expressed very
briefly. ] do not think Pittsburg
is simply beyond her power. Why, when
the electricians met here last month there
wasn't room for them, and if such a small
affair overtaxes our resources what could
we do with a first-class national convention?
The idea is simply absurd. Nobody desires
more than that Pittsburg should get all
the conventions going, but it would be folly
TO try to get them till we are able take care
of them after they come
Congressman William A. Stone was held
up for an opinion yesterday afternoon, and
he said:
Would Do the City Gooa.
81 am in favor of bringing the next
national convention to Pittsburg if possible
1 think it would be good thing
for the Republicans and good thing
for Pittsburg Do 1 think Pittsburg
could take in the delegates and feed and
lodge them? Certainly she could. Pitts
burg never vet let anything get away from
her I'm in favor of the convention being
held here, and / think it is the best place
for a national convention anyhow"
A member of Mayor Gourley's committee
who would not allow his name to be used
said: 'It is simply preposterous to talk of
holding national convention in Pittsburg.
Say that they could fix up the Mechanical
Hall so as to contain the delegates, do the
accommodations desirable end in the
hall for the convention Well nv
experience of three or four con-
ventions enables me to say that the
hall is no more important than the commit
fee rooms, where headquarters for State
delegations and candidates must be located
lfvou took every room in the Monongahela
House you'd not have your committee rooms
provided for-and how could a whole hotel
be spared when every scrap of sleeping
space would be in demand? 1 think Chi
cago is the only city in the country that
Ndh ICCCltt u Ddlltudl convention comfort
ably. New York in June is SO crowded
with regular visitors that she hasn't 10 per
cent of room in her hotels to devote to dele
gates, and Chicago's hotel accommodations
are much greater than New York in pro-
portion to population
United States immigration Inspector R.
d. Layton, who has knocked around more
conventions than he can remember, said
when asked for his opinion of Mayor Gour- |
ley's action:
Thinks the Plan lmpracticable.
''It is not TO be thought of / am con-
WINGED that Pittsburg, if she has all the |
viii in the world, has not the power to pro- !
vide for big convention such as that of the |
Republicans of the nation next year 1t is |
all verv nice to talk about bringing so MANY |
people here, but what would the result be |
if the representatives of every section of
the country had to hustle like ANYTHING to
get bed TO sleep in and meal to eat? 1t
would be a sure way to make Pittsburg a |
bvword and laughing stock in the nation"
The news from Washington is that Chair
man Clarkson, of the National Committee,
is in favor of the Capitals claims for the
convention, on the ground of Washington's
central position and its railroad and hotel
facilities. But Mr.. Clarkson will not saw
where he thinks the convention will be
held. AS yet Chicago, San Francisco,
Omaha, Cincinnati. Philadelphia and New
York are the only cities in the race but
San Francisco has been barred out as too re-
mote, although the Californians promise to
entertain the delegates free of all charge
Chicago is not very anxious to have the
convention, il is said. and the only smaller
cities that are hustling for the prize with
any hopes of success are Cincinnati and
Omaha. The convention will be held in
May if a hot city is chosen and in June if