Evening star., 1907-10-15
More Conventions.

Comment was made in The Star Satur-
day the number and Importance of the
national conventions that were held in
Washington last week. The convention
has come TO be more and more feature
of Washington life and this feature is
destined To grow TIL most national organi-
cations regularly hold their conventions
here.
With many patriotic. fraternal. benevo-
lent. business and other associations II Is
their practice to ram5le over the country,
holding this years convention here and
next years there. One result is the stir
ring up of rivalry between. and the play
Ing of polit Cs by. the various cities for
the hoEoT OF entertaining the convention.
An argument for this system set forth
by Its advocates Is that the delegates
see the country" The question arises
Do the same delegates go year after year
20 the convention of the organization?
Would it not have more broadening in
fuence on the representatives of the order
or the association TO come to the seat of
national government, see how the ma
chlnery works and shake hands with the
men who stoke and run the engine of
government. Would this not be better
than TO have the delegates scampering g
away lnLS time fOQunk, next time u
Squash Hollow and then of to Persimmon
Corners? II the national convention of
al organiza ton is held for the benefit of
that organization. Washington is the place
to hold it. If tie convention is he'd for
the entertainment and instruction of the
delegates, then Washington Is also the
place.
Washington should be the meeting place
80 h. /,
parties. There would be especial appro-
priateness and justice in this Washing
ton is the home OF politics-it is the goal
of politicians with big ambitions There
would be dignity and fitness now often
lacking in a national political assembly.
There Is something unseemIy in a great
political party selling its national conven-
ton to the city which bids the highest
cash price for it--someth.ng offensive in
great even a near-great political party
ordering Its delegates to go whittier the
finger 81 the highest bidder beckons
IL IS true the convention facilities of
Washington are not what Trey might be.
They are not what they will be- I'm
provement is going on all the time in
travel facilities, hotel and restaurant ac-
Commodatons and IN other ways. Some
oaS d COHNtnl!OH Hdlt Will De
built
Although This week has scarcely begun.
1t has begun well in the matter Of con-
ventions. The annual convention of the
American Association of General Passen-
ger and Ticket Agents opened today
This body of men will consider forms of
safety ticket paper and receive reports of
committees. Reports will also be made
regarding cooperating assOciatons-the
Association of General Baggage Agents.
the Association of Travelling Passenger
Agents. and the Fraternal Society of the
American Association of General Passen-
ger and Ticket Agents
The American Gas Institute will begin
its second annual convention tomorrow.
convention feature next week will be
the biennial session of the Ancient and
Accepted Scottish Rite of Free Masonry
for the Southern Jurisdiction. Various
committees of the Scottish Rite Masons
will hold sessions in Washington this
week.