The San Francisco call., 1909-10-15
WESTERN CONCLAVf
OPENS IN THIS CITY
Association Delegates Plunge
into Frank Discussion of
Liquor Question
FOresee Onslaught of "Drys'
Upon BOhemianism of
San Francisco

Although it had been planned to be
gin the serious work Of the convention
today the Western hotelmen's protect
sve association under the energetic in
nuence Of President Sam Dutton
riunged into the discussions at hand
carly yesterday morning and the ses-
son. instead of being a mere formal
reception Of delegates. was fun of in
structive speeches and many sided de-
bates.
The opening session was held in the
colonial ballroom OF the St. Francis
hotel Edgar :. de Wolfe, manager Of
The Granada, was on hand TO attend to
the proper registration of the delegates
and Thomas Keating saw that every
enc had his proper emblem
DISCUSS LIQUOR QUESTION
About 100 delegates attended. Pro-
hibition was the opening topic The
question of the +deadbH5t" and how
10 deal with him will come later. These
seem the two absorbing questions Of
the convention.
Rome Miller representing the
Northwestern hotelmen's association
and proprietor of the hotel in Omaha
discussion. President Dutton in his in
PRODUCTION said that Miller knew more
about prohibition than any man in
America and on 1Iiler's. correction
. compromised with west Of the Rock
les"
Miller is a good talker. He has not
always found his rostrum in q hotel
lobby. He said that more alcoholic
liquors had been consumed in his state
libition ordinance than at any time IN
the history Of the commonwealth. He
pointed out its evil effects on the ho-
tells
-Hotelmen," he said. should organize
and appoint representatives from the
various important towns Of the state
TO go TO the legislature when in ses-
sion, remaining long enough 10 enable
them TO convince the various legisla-
tive committees as TO the actual need
OF legislation affecting hotels
He said that the hotel was a collect
i've home that ought to be able TO give
its guests just what they wanted TO eat
and drink, just as host might in his
private home
The prohibitionists are always busy
with their side Of the issue Let the
Businessman and the property owner
see 10 il that the rational side Of the
question Is presented to all the peo-
pie" Miller concluded.
FORESEEs BATTLE HERE
Sam Dutton added that the people OF
this state were also vit>lly interested
in the prohibition movement and that
San Francisco was to be the battle
ground.
You are Bohemfans in this city;
that is the reason why we came TO
you Dutton said. IF the prohibition
lists win in san Francisco then the
whole west is lost. Let's be up and
doing something.
After the morning session the dele
gates and their wives were driven in
automobiles through Golden Gate park
TO the Cliff house, where they were the
guests Of John TAFT at lunch. The
trip was completed with ride
through the Preside reservation and
the downtown business section.
Charles Stewart did himself proud in
the entertainment Of the delegates in
the evening. For the first time the
new banquet room Of the Hotel Stew
art was opened. and If there was any
joke old or new that was not sprung
Il was not because Stewart did not
provide any of those things that usual
y make a man funny.
+. p. Stanley, manager of the St
James, created a hit when he said that
the ". II. n. P. A, the initials of the
Western hotel mems protective asso-
citation. meant nothing else than women
hate men who pay alimony. Stanley
doesn't but that didn't spoil the joke
tt was a night of reminiscence.
The women in the visiting party
spent the evening in Chinatown under
the guidance Of the women's reception
committee. This morning the business
Of the convention viii be resumed al
the St Francis