The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-01-21
GET TOGETHER ON A PLAN
"SEE AMERICA FIRST" MOVE
MENT SPREADS RAPIDLY.

to the Seeing America" conference a
complete working plan for it's considera-
ton may have led to the impression in
certain uniformed quarters that the
local club is assuring to dictate to the
gentlemen who will compose this confer
ence. Such, however, is far from being
the case, and this Is best evidenced by
the fact that, under the direction of the
special committee, the secretary, on Jan.
g. sent out an invitation to eighteen
prominent publicity men Of the west to
gather in Salt Lake on the 23d, two days
before the opening of the conference
proper, for the consideration Of this plan
Of permanent organization.
Heads of Commercial Clubs.
That letter was dispatched to the fol-
lowing gentlemen:
Rufus p. jennings of the California
Promotion Committee; Frank Virgins of
the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce;
Tom Richardson of the Portland Com
merclal Club; George w. Cooke of the
Denver Business Mems League; John T.
Burne of the Colorado State Commercial
Association; E. ]. McVann of the Omaha
Commercial Club; Louis w. Pratt of the
Tacoma Chamber Of Commerce and
Board Of Trade; L. G. Monroe of the
Spokane Chamber of Commerce; 7. J.
Anderson of the Topeka Commercial
-
Der of Commerce; w. A. Beard of the
Sacramento Valley Development AssOci-
alton; Justin A. Runyan of the Manu-
facturers & Merchants Association of
Kansas City; II. z. Wood of the Hawaii
Promotion Committee; H. L. Resting of
the Wichita Commercial Club; Henry
Russell Wray of the Colorado Springs
Chamber of Commerce; George r. Brown
Of the Little Rock Board of Trade; P F:
McCanna Of the Albuquerque Commercial
Club; W. c. Nye of the Minneapolis Com
mercial Club.
The wording Of the letter sent out was
as follows:
Il am directed by the special commit
tee to extend to you an earnest invita-
ton to be present in this city Jan. 23d,
two days before the opening session Of
the Seeing America conference, which
is called, as you know, on the 18th inst.
Club Will Present a Plan.
''This Commercial club has said that it
would present a plan of procedure for the
consideration Of the conference Of Jan.
p, 1906 The movement has now reached
such unexpected proportions that, recOg-
nizing the wide area of country affected
and the grave interests involved, the club
is reluctant to assume the sole response
bility of the plan in question and in
which all are equally interested. Indeed
it would be manifestly unfair to the i'm
pOrtant organizations which have thus
far rendered such generous and effective
aid in advancing the interests of the con-
ference, to ignore them in the preliminary
consideration of this vastly important
phase of the work
1.-The general plan IN contemplation will
be- when completed, comprehensive and
representative in character and easily
possible of practical application but that
it can be improved upon by the expert
enced men named above admits of no
question.
Further it would seem wise to have
~1T~r I'll
with the understanding that It repre-
scented not only the best thought Of the
combined commercial bodies of the direct
ly interested section, but had their sane
ton and endorsement.
Real Work to Be Done.
such a presentation as is here indica-
ted would also, it seems to the commit
tee, move strongly for the accomplish
ment of the purposes of the conference.
This club has undertaken the prelimi-
nary work the Seeing America
movement in no sectional or selfish
spirit, and neither the club nor anyone
connected with it, expects or wants, any
reward, except such as comes from the
consciousness Of public duty properly
performed.
These suggestions are laid before you
for such consideration as In your judg-
the hope that you may consider it de-
sirable to accept the committees invita-
ton
Many Start for Zion.
In response to this invitation a number
OF the leading publicity men in the west
are now on their way to Salt Lake City,
and the indications are that a majority
of those named above will be on hand to
take part in the preliminary work Of the
conference. In addition to this publicity
men of national reputation are already on
the ground. Others are on the way COM
ing from New York City and other east
ern centers. and all are enthusiastic in
the movement.
Some idea Of the popularity of the ''See
America First idea may be gained from
the announcement that George H Dan
IelS, the general passenger agent of the
New York Central. has adopted the slogan
In all his advertisements for his railroad
system.
Already there is movement afoot to
take up the work in the schools and
appeal to the children in behalf of their
own country along patriotic lines. The
idea is also suggested to have the general
government issue a special See America
First" postage stamp. This idea will be
followed up later.
Well Known Railroad Men.
Messages were received from a number
Of prominent men yesterday announcing
these is Governor Albert E. Mead of
Washington. He will be accompanied by
his wife. They will leave for Salt Lake
City Sunday night and while in the city
will be the guests Of former Governor
George A Black
Fl. B. kooser, formerly of Salt Lake,
general western passenger and freight
agent of the Missouri Pacific system, will
also attend He will be accompanied by
William II. Tayloe Of the Southern rail
road OF Washington, d. c. James Z. Cal
breath. secretary of the America in Min
ing congress, is also on his way to this
city
Citizens of Salt Lake City are begin
ming TO awake to the fact that a confer
ence of tremendous Importance to the en-
tire west is about to be held within their
gates. Programmes for the conference,
the tabernacle concert and the banquet
known to make it certain that those in
attendance on the conference will hear
number of the greatest speakers in the
entire western hnIf Of the co,1r,tru