Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-30
AUDITORIUM PROJECT
LONG STRIDE TOWARD PRoCUR-
ING BIG PUBLIC HALL.
Association Decides to Ask Congress
for Legislation and to Pro-
cure Charter.

What is believed to be a long step for
ward in the interest of the proposed au-
ditorlum. which. 1t is hoped, will be built
in this city for the purpose of accommodate
Ing future inaugural balls. conventions and
other great meetings in the capital, was
taken yesterday afternoon at the public
mass meeting held In the Columbia Theater
under the auspices of the citizens commit
tee of the Washington Auditorium Associa-
ton. Commissioner Henry L. West. chair
man OF the committee, presided, and with
him on the platform were Commissioner
Henry B. F. Mcfarland, Gen John M. Will
son and W. V. Cox, president of the WASH
ington Board of Trade.
That the auditorium building Is among
the near possibilities of the future was
brought out by the earnestness with which
the speakers presented their various views
Commissioner Mcfarland was the first
speaker introduced.
with proper organization by act of Con-
gress," said he. "and a proper appeal to the
people, we shall undoubtedly succeed In our
project. I believe in the civic pride and
public spirit of our citizens. ! resent any
imputation that they are not as quick to re-
spond to any proper appeal as citizens any
where else. We know that they do respond
whenever convinced that the cause Is right
Witness the latest exhibition of their gen
the Y NJ. c. A building by three thousand
subscribers, whose contributions made the
entire property worth over half million
dollars
On a High Plane.
The appeal for this auditorium must be
on high plane 1t must be on the ground
that it will benefit the entire community
rather than the individual stockholders.
Whether the stock ever pays a dividend or
not Eve know that one auditorium, that at
Kansas City has paid, it will be remuner-
alive to the entire community. 1t must be
also on large scale. We must have MIL
lion dollars subscribed for site and building
before We begin work, and it should be
completed without debt.
THE reasons for it are SO obvious that
they need not be rehearsed. The project
should be kept national in character and the
appeal should be to all the citizens of the
republic, here and elsewhere. who want
their national capital to be the finest and
best equipped in the world.
Patriotic Grounds
Patriotism was the ground on which Gen.
John NJ Wilson, the next speaker, made his
plea for the support of the projected audi
torium. I'VE have the grandest buildings
in the country here in Washington" he said.
In all projects where the people have been
appealed to they have responded literally.
We have adequate church and educational
institutions; what we want now is n place
where can inaugurate our Presidents.
We know how hard It has been TO ask any
thing for the District from Congress, and
that 1t has seemed as though we were ask
ing personal privileges. We have been given
to understand that We can never hope to use
the pension office building for the inaugural
ceremonies again. and this fact alone makes
it imperative that we erect a suitable audi
forum building"
Mr.. w. V. Cox. when introduced, gave a
hut. 1,
the close of the worlds fair at St Louis to
secure the iron framework of the federal
building at the fair as suitable for the basis
of the much-needed auditorium. This city
should be the convention city of the coun-
try he continued. and we should ask the
citizens of the entire country to aid in the
great project.
George L. Hamilton was then called upon
by Chairman West. Mr.. Hamilton voiced
the opinion that patriotism and civic pride
should be the predominating reasons for the
erection of the building, but he also de-
clared his belief that it could be made a
paying investment. In support of this he
pointed to the auditorium which has been
erected in Kansas City, ana which now
realizes for its stockholders a fair dividend
on the money invested. This undoubtedly
could be duplicated in Washington" Mr..
Hamilton declared.
Resolution Adopted.
The purpose of the meeting was crystal
lied by Mr. Hamilton when he introduced
a resolution providing for the Incorporation
of the auditorium association, with the sug-
gestion that it be presented to Congress
with recommendation for favorable &C
ton. The resolution, which was unani-
mously adopted, sets forth that 1T Is the
desire of the citizens Of Washington to
erect a modern artistic and capacious audi
tOrium,' and that lit is desirable TO def
nitely inaugurate the project by incor-
porating the Washington Auditorium AS
ISOLATION of the District OF Columbia, which
incorporation cannot be secured under
listing law until all the stock subscribed for
has been paid in. a plan which is at present
irEpracticabIe."
Therefore" the resolution provides, the
chairman of the citizens committee be
directed TO appoint a committee of three
who shall prepare a bill to be presented TO
Congress authorizing the incorporation of
the Washington Auditorium Association Of
the District of Columbia, the number of
incorporators not to exceed twenty-five, and
that a copy of this resolution be trans
nftted to the committee on the District Of
Columbia of the Senate and House Of Rep
resentatives. respectively, with a request
for prompt and favorable consideration of
the proposed act of Incorporation.
Also that the chairman be authorized to
appoint q committee, not exceeding twenty
members to urge the procurement of neces-
sary legislation and pending this to apply
for a charter to give definite form and
direction to the auditorium project
Thanks Expressed.
Chairman West brought the meeting to
close by expressing the thanks of the as
sociatlon to the management of the Column
bia Theater for rendering the use of the
house for the meeting.
Among those present were: Riley Decide,
c. c. Lancaster, Greed NJ. Fulton. eX-Com-
missioner Truesdell, Emil Berliner, Gen.
George II Hairless Thomas w. Smith, eN-
Commissioner John NJ Douglass, Milton L.
Allies. John Joy Edison, Scott c. Bone, c. c.
Glover, Robert Callihan. jr.. Col. Charles A
Boynton and Levi Woodbury..
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