The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-10-23
TIE N. E. A.. IN HELENA.
Misrepresentation OF The Christian Union
OF Oct. 3 Corrected.

misrepresentation of The Christian Union
of Oct. 8 Corrected.
The Christian Union. of Oct. 3. contains
4 short article touching the location of the
National Educational association for 1892.
The article in question net only misrep-
ressnts the facts as to Helena, the place
selected by the board Of directors, but it il
evidently one Of the steps of a poorly de-
vised scheme to create a prejudice in tho
minds of the committee, as we'll as the
country at large against a western plan of
meeting, says the Missouri Valley, Iowa,
Eye, Oct. Is.
Now, what are the facts in the case? At
the Toronto meeting no city of the United
States or Canada was debarred the privi-
lege Of asking for the convention if it de-
sired to do so. The opportunity was open
to all. The only cities, however, indicating
adesire to have the convention were Helena,
Seattle. Saratoga and Washington, D. @.
The board of directors. by a strong vote,
decided to hold its next meeting at Helena,
provided it could show to the executive
it could meet the requirements usually i'm
posed upon cities in which the convention
10 held.
In the latter part of August three of the
five members of the executive committee
visited Helena, (the other two declined to
OC pAObVAApJ AdNAAH ~ 70 lOooC6nAou Cfl0~
fully prepared copies of the conditions
which had been prepared by the chairman
of the committee, m made a thorough in
v%estigation as to Helena's ability to care
for tho association. Upon leaving Helena
the committee made its report to President
Cook, in whose hands it remains to this
day.
Now, if the report be unfavorable, which
We have every reasen for believing it is not,
it is a very easy matter to make known the
fact and proceed to the selection of some
other city, but if it is favorable, if Helena
and good judgment NO ono will question,
that she is able to entertain the large num-
bers who will be present, to provide suita-
BILE accommodations for the various Sec
tions and to secure the necessary conces-
sions from the railroads. why in all fairness
ID the matter not settled and the official an
nOuncement made?
The facts are, Helena 10 we'll able to &C
commodate the convention and though not
rs large as Boston or Chicago, she possesses
the necessary means, enterprise n public
spirit to make a decided success of the
meeting. She is the great convention city
of the est as eyinced by the fact that
she has two other large national conven-
ton for next year. viz:-the national con-
vention Of the A. o. U. w. and the national
encampment of the Sons Of Veterans.
There is no question but that the opposi-
ZION 10 Helena arises QOG from an honest
belief in her inability to make a SUCCESS of
the association, but from a desire to hold
the meeting elsewhere, that the personal
ambition of certain parties may thereby be
subserved.
Only twice in the history of the a~ssocia-
ton has its annual meeting been held west
of the Mississippi river, and twice or three
times in the southern states. The persist
ent effort to hold it year after year in the
east, and that. too, in this case, in direct
opposition to the expressed wish of the as
socistion is rs unjust as it is unwise. No
one having tho real interest of the associa-
ton at heart, desiring to see it maintain its
character as a national institution will lend
his influence to any policy that loct.s
merely to the upbuilding of any party or
place.
TIT educational system of our country
is greater than the association or any of its
component elements. The association
should therefore be used to strengthen
the system, to broaden its scope,
to deepen the convictions and raise
the aspiration of those who
are deyoting the best wears cs their lives in
its service. To this end it's places of meet
ing should be wisely distributed that all
parts OF our great country may feel the
effects of its magical presence and drink in
the inspiration that comes from n personal
contact with the men and women who
assemble in her councils from yenr TO year.
in Chicago in 1888. Boston has already
spoken for 1t in '94. Under these circum-
stances. it would be a very short sighted