The Detroit times., 1908-07-14
{ N Til Us|AsM F OR
CONVENTION HALl
RUNS HIGH
RETURNED DENVER DELEGATES
STRONGLY ADVOCATE BUILD.
ING IN DETERIORATION COMES
OVER RAISING PUBLIC MONEY.

Detroiters who went TO the Denver
convention have returned full OF en-
thusiasm over the great convention
hall built by the people of that city
The permanency OF its building, its
perfect acoustics and well-designed
seating arrangement have all made an
impression and created feeling that
size and completeness.
The project was taken up months
ago by the Board OF Commerce and a
committee of aldermen was chosen TO
act with them. The change In Board
OF Commerce committees stopped the
agitation before any tangible progress
had been made. A new impetus may
be given the plan now.
Noble Ashley. who has had much to
do with bringing conventions here.
feels very strongly on the matter.
I'VE are In no position now TO ask
great gatherings to come TO our city,
he says. There would be no trouble
In getting the biggest conventions 60
ing II only we had place to take care
OF them.
II think the city should build the
convention hall and give its use free
TO conventions. There would be spe-
cial things for which II could be rent
ed. AS Ii is. the local committees
which invited various bodies here,
have to guarantee a convention hall
and pay for IT, That costs from 5000
to $500 per week for the local people.
A city-built convention hall should
have smaller halls for different sized
gatherings"
Mayor 10 Pessin,IstIc.
Mayor Thompson is pessimistic as to
the outlook.
1T would be very nice II we could
get such a convention hall, and | am
perfectly willing 10 cooperate in any
plan to that end. but | don't see how
II Is to be DONE" he says. I'VE had a
lot Of trouble in building the G. A. r..
structure, although we had a special
act of the Legislature
"A convention hall would cost a
great deal Of money and we are up
to our bonding limit now. do not
think that cities of our size care 30
much about those matters as smaller
places. Denver and other smaller cit
les have fine convention halls that are
public property, but the Coliseum In
Chicago Is owned by corporation and
is a private enterprise"
There is no legal way to get the
money" declared Corporation Counsel
Hally succinctly.
Difficulty In Raising Money.
The one difficulty is that of raising
the money by popular vote. as the city
A special act might be passed. how
and the legislature is chary of giving
permission to exceed such limit.
A social act might be passed. how
ever. The Board of Commerce COM
mittee has talked of soliciting contri-
buttons up to half OF the amount OF
the expenditure from wealthy citizens.
The enterprise Of the people OF
Denver Is not only commendable, but
wonderful In a city OF that size" says
George William Moore, who was In
attendance In the convention. Il wish
that Detroit had such hall. Were
rich enough | would do more than
wish to bring such thing to realiza-
ton.
They built their convention hall
as they would city hall. with defin-
lite purpose-to bring important
gatherings there, to increase the pres.
tige and prosperity Of their city. They
have built for century TO come. Such
spirit and civic feeling in Detroit
would help greatly. We are much
better situated than Denver to get
great conventions II only we had hall
like theirs
Campau Enthusiastic.
I'VE ought not to rest In Detroit
until the counterpart OF Denvers mag
nifcent auditorium Is an accomplished
fact" was ID. J. Campau's expression
while en- route from Denver. Detroit
Is twice the size of the city that has
shown this enterprise. and logically
should have been the first place to
provide a convention hall OF such great
capacity and completeness. IL would
fit into her fame and requirements as
the foremost convention city OF the
country. am going home to do all
can to get the good work started
Mr.. Campau came as far as Chicago
Saturday night and remained over
there on business. He Is delighted
with the completed ticket and plat
form The latter he looks upon as as
neat a specimen OF form-building
as was ever accomplished in a national
convention. To George Fred Williams.
OF Massachusetts. he says the credit
Is due for the injunction plank which
was satisfactory 10 both Bryan and
Parker. granted all TO Gompers and
Mitchell that they could reasonably
look for, and cites the action OF a Re-
publican senate I'm support OF the JUS