The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-06-14
TP.A. CONVENTION
WILL MEAN MUCH
TO SAVANNAH NEXT YEAR
DELEGATES To INDIANAPOLIS RE-
TURNED TO CITY YESTERDAY.

II. III. Hitch, Who Did Much TO Secure
the Convention, Tells of What 1t
VIII Mean to Snvannah-Says 800
or GOO People Will Visit City ana
That over $4,000 viii BE Spent
Here-The Entire Georgia DeIega-
ton Worked for Savannah.
The L. P. A. convention in Sa-
vannah next year will mean a great
deal to the city," said Mr.. r. NJ.
Hitch, who returned yesterday morn
ing from the convention in Indianap-
oils. where Savannah was decided upon
as the next meeting place.
81 noticed the Indianapolis conVen-
ton carefully to see just what it did
mean to a town. There were between
500 and 600 delegates. and visitors at
the convention and IS day is a mod
crate estimate of what each of them
spent. At that rate, 500 people would
spend $500 a day, or $4,000 in the
four days of the convention.
There was therefore at least $4,000
spent in Indianapolis by reason of the
convention and the Savannah conven-
tlOn OuRnI 10 DS even UlOiS SuCCCSS-
full. 1 talked with the secretary of
the Springfield Post, and he told me
that it cost them about $4,000 to en-
terrain the convention. For $4,000 we
can give the convention, "a better time
than Springfield did for $4,000. we have
so many natural Attractions here.
Would Cost hess Here.
I'VE were very delightfully."- enter
tanned in Springfield, but what l mean
to say is that the same entertainment
would cost less here. We were car
ried out to Lincoln's old home, and
to the cemetery, where he was buried.
There the Southern delegates, as well
as the others, placed flowers on his
grave.
ION "wednesday night the Governor
of the state gave the delegates re-
ception and afterwards there was a
ball at which there were between $500
and 5000 people. 1t was a very elab
crate affair, the decorations alone cost
ing over $780, 1t was given in the
armory which the state has built for
the Springfield military. The drill hail.
where the ball was given, is about
2S5 feet long by $50 feet wide. 1t
is a hall that will accommodate sew
eral thousand people and all the polit-
ical conventions of the state are held
there.
Visited St. Louis Fair.
1.-THE business sessions of the conven-
ton were held in the House of Repre-
sentatives in the State Capitol, a mag
nificent structure costing $4,000,000
Thursday night the convention adj
journed and the delegates and their
friends left on a special train for St.
Louis, where they were the guests of
the st. Louis Post, T. P. A., at the
Worlds Fair. We spent Friday at the
exposition and most of us then left for
home.
The st. Louis fair is magnificent. 1t
is a tremendous affair. The Georgia
building is not yet finished and 1 am
afraid it is not going to be very fine,
when it is complete. The T. p. A. build
ing at the exposition is fine one, much
better than many of the state build
ings. We made that our headquarters.
Georgia Worked for Savannah.
In speaking of securing the conven-
ton for Savannah, Mr.. Hitch said Pres
ident E. w. Donhan, who visited Sa-
Vannah several months ago and was
entertained here, was largely respon-
sible. In his annual address the presi-
dent referred to his visit to Savannah
and what a delightful time he had
here.
The entire Georgia delegation worked
for Savannah, Mr.. Hitch says. All
claims to national officers were given
up this year that the convention might
be secured. Mr.. Hitch says the ladies'
at the convention also aided Savannah,
as they We're all secured early in the
meeting.
The Savannahians at the convention,
besides Mr.. Hitch, were Mr.. Hugo
Frank, president of Post A; Mr.. A. w.
Morehouse, state secretary; Mr.. Joe
Lovenstein, formerly national vice
president; Mr.. Max Robinson, formerly
state president. Mrs. Robinson was
with Mr.. Robinson.