Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-09
; 9


Endeavor, and some of them require six
far the headquarters of the convention
committee in this city are advised of the
rame of only one delegate who is actually
en- route. He is the Rev G. P. Coll, presi-
dent of the Liberia, West Coast, Africa
Christian Endeavor Union, and is the Off
cial delegate representing that far-away
combination of societies.
But while this interested worker from the
dark continent is vending his solitary way
toward this capital, there are thousands
and tens Of thousands in this country who
have the same goal in view, and are maxi
ing their preparations to attend the mann
moth gathering. Some have been looking
forward to the trip to Washington for
months, and have been systematically put
ting aside small portion of their income
as a fund to defray their expenses; in the
case of others the interest in the conven-
ton is just beginning to assert itself. and
they are busily engaged In devisng ways
and means for making the journey. In all
the states and in the provinces OF Canada,
and at all county conventions and city
unions the cry is beginning to be sounded,
"On to Washington" and is being echoed
and re-echoed from delegation to delega-
ton as information from the committee OF
'96 is given out detailing the plans for the
convention and the excellent program
which is being perfected at the headquar-
tiers of the United Society in Boston.
Excursion Managers.
Every delegation, whether it be from
state. county or city union, which will
attend the convention in any considerable
numbers, appoints special person or per-
sons whose sole duty it Is to make ar
rangements for the trip, choose the route
of travel. plan out the itinerary. select
hotel accommodations for the delegation
during its stay at the convention and look
after the interests of the party generally.
These officers are designated as transpor-
tation agents or excursion managers AS
rule, there is general transportation
manager for the whole state, which is
subdivided into convenient sections, each in
charge of a local manager. These agents
work up an interest in the convention
among the societies in their district, esti-
mate the number of delegates each will
take from his section and report to the
chief manager. Sometimes the unions in
the large cities will act independently Of
those in the rest Of the state and select
the time and manner of transportation and
provide their own hotel accommodations.
Pennsylvania will send, it Is expected,
the largest delegation to this years con-
vention. Its transportation agent, J. c.
Manning, has prepared and issued his first
announcement circular, which has been Civ
en- wide circulation throughout the state.
II is a four-page sheet and appropriately
printed in the Washington colors the COW
ers in blue and the inside pages in red ink.
1t contains a cut of the Pennsylvania but
ton. which will decorate the lapels of coats
and the fronts Of shirtwaists of most of
Pennsylvania's delegation when the men,
bers reach this city two months hence.
There is also printed a cut of the hotel
where the headquarters will be located, the
Washington SO convention flag and
splendid represen tation of the Calvary Bap-
list Church, to which the delegation has
been assigned for its church home during
its stay in the city.
Information for Delegates.
Information is given on all points essen
tial for intending visitors from Pennsyl-
vania to know. In bold type appears the
statement Of the one-fare round-trip rail-
road rate. the tickets being good until the
end Of July. Special trains will be run
from central points throughout the state,
under the direct charge of the local ex-
cursion managers The names and address,
es of these managers are given, and expect
ant delegates are urged to give ample noti-
fcation of their determination to attend
the convention so that proper train service
may be arranged. A letter from the sec
rotary of the Pennsylvania Christian En-
deavor Union Is also included in the circu-
lar, in which he briefly men tions the main
features in the arrangements for meeting
places, speaks of the convenience OF the
hotel accommoda lions secured and con-
graduates the state on having been assign
ed to one Of the finest churches in the city
for headquarters.
Kentucky's circular Is also an attrac-
tive one and brimful Of information about
the trip and the prospects of the conven-
ton. 1t, too, contains cut Of the con-
vention flag, the church to which Ken
tucky's delegation has been assigned-Ry-
land NJ. E. Church-and the hotel which
has been secured for its headquarters. Con-
spicuously printed on the envelope IN
which the circular is mailed is the famil-
lar catch phrase. ION to Washington"
which is ringing throughout the country
with increasing intensity just now. Ken
lucky is after the convention In 1888, and
Is therefore especially anxious that its dele
CATION this year will be larger than any
she has heretofore sent. for it is expected
that the board of trustees will decide at
this convention where the gatherings for
the next two seasons will be held.
The Center OF Interest.
Throughout the country there Is increas-
ing interest In the fast approaching con-
vention. Frank o. Bishop, transportation
manager for Rhode Island, writes: There
is more enthusiasm now about Washington
than we ever had this time Of year for any
other convention From Connecticut's
excursion agent, ]. F. Williams, comes this
word: I'VE have the state quite well in
formed as to plans for Washington. and
much enthusiasm Is manifested. We are
trying to have as many societies as pos
sible, have Washington flag in their
meeting rooms and 1t as a bulletin
board for Washington circulars. 1t works
WELL" Similar expressions are heard on all
sides. Washington is just now the center
of interest to thousands upon thousands of
enthusiastic young people.
1t is usual in planning the arrangements
for bringing his delegation to a conven-
ton, for an excursion manager to visit
the convention city at least once and fire.
quently many times in advance to perfect
the details in person. By going over the
ground they are prepared to make better
and more satisfactory arrangements than
they could possibly do by letter. Already
many of the state excursion managers
have come to the city and entered into
contracts for their hotel accommodations
beside comforting with the members of the
committee of '96 and learning something
of the good things in store for them when
the convention opens. Hotels have been
engaged thus far by the delegations from
Connec ticut, Indiana, Massac husetts, New
Jersey, Philadelphia, Tennessee, New York,
Illinois, Iowa, st. Louis. Ohio Pennsylva-
mia, Texas, Vermont, New Hampshire
Rhode Island, Minnesota, Arkansas, West
Virginia, Delaware, York, Harrisburg and
Kentucky.
Chairman Miles NJ. Shand is the first
person sought out by the excursion man.