Evening star., 1897-08-05
MANY REASONS PRESENTED
An Address to the Oitisens About the Ma
"a:
tional Educational Association.
The Benefits and Advantages That
Would Result From bringing Next
Years Convention to This City.

Colonel Henry F. Blount, chairman of the
local executive committee of the National
Educational Association. and the finance
committee, which consists of Thomas w.
Smith, chairman; Mrs. Sara A. Spencer,
Rev. B. l.. Whitman. s. w. Woodward,
Albert NJ Read, S. B. Hege. A. T. Stuart,
John F. Cook and B. K. Bruce, have ad-
dressed circular to the citizens of Wash
iEgton reciting the reasons why the Ma
tional Educational Association should as
semble here in 1898.
The circular states that the great associa-
ton, numbering mere than 1900 leading
educators of the nation, and representing
half a million teachers and all of the edu-
cational interests of the world, from. the
university to the kindergarten and child
study. has never met in the capital of the
United States, nor has it been invited to
assemble here until now.
On the Sth of July, nine invitations to
assemble here in July, 1885, were presented
to the association from the Commissioners
of the District of Columbia, from the trus-
tees of the public schools, from the board
of trade, from all of the universities and
from leading scientific associations. Ur-
gent invitations were also presented from
Omaha, Neb.: Los Angeles, Cal, and Salt
Lake City, Utah, and these four cities are
now under consideration by the executive
committee of the National Educational AS
sociation.
Whether it will meet in Washington, says
the circular. will depend upon the prompt
ness of action in making ample provisions
for it's mammoth assemblies. the great va
riety of cotemporaneous sessions, and the
entertainment and comfort of It's delegates
and the vast number of friends of educa-
ton who accompany them.
Excellent Effects Described.
Continuing. 1t says: 'If this organization
holds it's next meeting In this city all OF
the teachers. school children and college
students in the United States will know it.,
and talk about it for year to come, and
for many years thereafter, and intelligent
people throughout the country will be
thinking of Washington as a natural, po-
tential and actual educational center.
"The members of this association are not
dependent. They pay their own way, and
carefully collected statistics show that they
leave more than million dollars in city
or state where they assemble.
They have accumulated from member
ship fees fund of 100000, which they pro-
pose to increase to 100000, to carry out
and enlarge their great educational work.
They have wrought revolution in pub
lie sentiment on educational questions
wherever they have been, stimulating am
bition and industry, awakening parents and
citizens to the need of improved methods
ard economy of time and life forces, ell
couraGiEg local pride. and causing such
general illumination that wherever it is
held neighboring states and cities urge
invitations to come to them also. For in
stance. in 1884. it assembled in Madison.
Wis. Milwaukee declares it revolutfonized
the state. and she has wanted it ever since.
In 1883 1t met in San Francisco, Cal and
Los Angeles declares it illuminated the
Pacific coast, and she has continued to ask
for it year after year.
THE teachers of the United States desire
TO visit the national capital, and 1t is from
teachers in all sections of the country that
the impulse has come that found so hearty
response in our citizens who recently
gave the invitation from Washington d. c.
to the National Educational Association.
"The treasures of art, science, literature
and historic memories accumulated here
are for the whole people. and in no way
can their influence be so generally diffused
as through the teachers of the land
The local expenses of providing for this
great assembly will be about $4,000, and
clear-headed. generous citizens who con-
tribute to this amount will be repaid in full
measure through all the agencies and in
fuences named in this circular"