The San Francisco call., 1897-08-18
NATIONAL CONVENTIONS.


How They May BE Secured for San
Francisco.
To the Editor Of the San Francisco Catl-sIE:
Too much cannot be said in favor of the work
inaugursted at the recent meeting called by
Mayor Phelan by the appointment of 'con-
yention committee" for the purpose of in
ducing conventions to meet in San Francisco.
l doubt, however, if even the leaders of that
movement fully understand the vast import
ance OF the work they have undertaken and
the extent to which they can push il, pro-
vided the matter is handled in g sufficiently
systematic manner as a permanent institu-
ton among the many organizations Tor pro-
noting the in nterests of California.
Owing TO my experience for a nun Der of
years as an official reporter OF eonven ton
proceedings in many cities OF the East and
West, have seen the great opportunity for
work on behalf of California in this matter.
and did, in fact, endeavor 10 start this move
ment directly following the Midwinter Fair
congresses.
statement was published from one of the
mem bers of the recent meeting that "a year
in advance was not too soon to begin work for
q convention The fact IS that "a year in ad-
vance" is too late to begin work. For in
stance, suppose We wanted 10 secure the Ma
t.onai Electric Light Convention for 1898 We
cannot because the place o. meeting in 1898
has already been fixed by the convention OF
1897, recently held at Niagara Falls. Was there
any strong argument d ade on that floor for
San Francisco? Probably not. Now If we want
that convention Tor 1899 the only way is 10
start your work now. tud out by cores pom
dence the feeling of leading members and be
i'll position to open UP campaign through
the mails Tor San Francisco some time before
the convention of 1898 meets. Then see tha I
delegates are sent from San Francisco who are
powerful speakers, backed up by all the litera-
ture that can be furnished by your convention
com mittee and also BY all the local influence
IN the electrical line that your convention
can bring 10 bear here. All The electrical n
terests on the Pacific coast will help get that
convention. Tnen see that the strongest Dos
sible invitation and argument in behalf ot
California Is made on the floor of the 1898
convention, next year, to secure the couyeu-
ton for 1899. We cannot get the 1898 con-
yention, because that is already fixed and
there is no other way but this to get the one
for 1899.
This convention committee should Oman i'm,
mediaIe correspondence with the Ulcers of
every convention IN the United States of
which there are hundreds, ascertain the dates
OF their next meetings, and then see that at
the next meetings the ca Inpalgn is started for
California for The following meeting. When
ever location has been selected for 1895 let
US find it out, ana work for '99. Ii we wair
until 9S 10 work for '99, we aie 100 .ae
Again, the committee Is working 10 secure
two or thee large conventions which are IN
immediate sight. That fight is wei in hand
Uy certain members of the committee Iet
Them keep II up. but do not let The WORK of the
whole com mmitlee stop there, Tor there are
hundreds of other conveE tions, not so well
known. that can be secured and bring MANY
thousa ands OF people here, 10 say nothing OF
the tremendous advertising the State wound
receive, both through the mail campaign ana
the night Tor California on the floor OI every
convention The advertising we receive
would De worth all it cost, even il we failed 10
secure the convention. 1t could not be ex-
pected that every convention gone after
would yield. but by going after all We would
capture many not otherwise expected and
the effort would in no case be wasted, ow N :
TO the prominence the State would receive
through the agitation for II.
There are few large conventions of which
the general pubic knows. These the commit.
lee VIII start after first, but unless that com.
mlttee IooKs deeply and thoroughly inio This
matter they VIII overlook the hundreds OF
conventions interesting 10 many thousands OF
people, but about which very lew people hear,
except those persons directly interest ted in The
SUBJECT matter OF the convention or the par.
ticuiar line OF work fostered by that as ssocia-
tioa.
The conventions held in the United States