The evening times., 1899-12-20
TO Care FOR THE VISITORS
Philadelphia's Preparations for the
Republican Convention.
The Quaker City Not to Pattern After
Other CommOnw ealths in the
Manner OF Entertainment-Con
tiOns Now in n Chaotic State. But
an Early Adjustment Is Predicted.

PHILADELPHIA. Dec. 2o.-Philadelphis
is not going to pattern after any city in
the entertainment of the delegates and
other guests who will be here in attend
ance upon the Republican National Con-
vention next June. Heretofore local COM
| mittees of arrangements have devoted al
most their entire energies to the coustruc-
tion of a suitable convention hall and the
solution of the brain-dazzling proposition
of giving every subscriber TO the fund to
cover the expenses OF the convention a
bunch Of tickets of admission to the audi
torium proportionate to the size Of his
| contribution.
There will be more than this done here.
While matters are in somewhat chaotic
state as far as placing the responsibility
OF the arrangements for the convention are
concerned. II is likely that this will read
ily be adjusted and the men who were ac-
tive in the movement to bring the conven-
tion here will be fully recognized in the
appointment of a committee by Mayor
Ashbridge. which will be at the same time
representative of all the business elements
as well as the political interests of the
city.
A number Of prominent citizens called
upon Mayor Ashbridge yesterday and
urged him TO take held of the matter be-
fore anything Of definite nature shall be
done that would be calculated to deter nen
of influence and standing in the commu
nifty, who have not been heretofore ident;-
fed with the project, from contributing
to the success of the convention. The
mEor has been urged 10 invite the lead
ers of the movement which resulted in
Philadelphia being selected as the conven-
tion city to meet him at his Office for a
conference as to the plans for the future.
This il is claimed, would give to the or
ganization making arrangements for the
convention an official standing and make
the matter of the collection OF funds to
bear the expenses easy of solution.
1t is not unlikely that some financial as
sistance will be asked of councils. in which
event it will be essential to have the
mayors cooperation. and committee ap
pointed by him would. Of course, be more
apt to receive consideration from councils
than any other body of citizens. no matter
how enthusiastic Cr enterprising they
might be.
1t is known that Mayor Ashbridge does
not seek trouble, and that he personally
would be pleased to be relieved of the re-
sponsibility of the appointment of citi-
zens' committee, but the requests for him
to act from representative and leading cit
liens have been of such character that he
hesitates as to what course to pursue. 1t
is not improbable that men like Henry
Burk. president of the association that di-
rected the movement which brought the
convention TO this city; W. S. p. Shields.
who headed the advance guard which went
to Washington to open up the campaign
for Philadelphia; Horace d. Cav, Presi-
dent Of the Young Republicans. which or
ganization has the credit of inaugurating
the movement to get the convention here;
Henry Brooks. Henry NJ. McWade. James
F. Mclaughlin. Thomas Martindale, John
W. Woodside, Louis H. Smith, Russell Du-
ane, Porter F. Cope, and others who were
conspicuous in the convention campaign
will call upon Mayor Ashbridge and re-
quest him to appoint citizens committee.
which will include, besides the men who
figured in the preliminary work. other rep
resentatives of the several interests of the
city, which would give the body an official
character, and will ensure the collection of
the funds that will be needed to make the
convention a success.