Omaha daily bee., 1909-04-26
RYDER TALKS OF GRAND AERIE
State President Of Eagles Predicts
Largest Convention Yet Held.
SIX DAYS LIKE MKNLEY DAY
Urges Oman Business Men TO Get
Busy and Assist the General
and Committees
In Their work.

Letters now being received. five
months ahead OF the time set for the
grand aerie convention. indicate that h
we have been claiming all along is true"
said John j. Ryder. state president of the
Eagles.
I'VE are TO have here in Omaha the
geographical center as IL Is known to
all members of the order now, the larg-
est and greatest gathering of the members
OF one single order ever held anywhere.
That is saying a good deal, and l would
not say II we're Il not that l have seen
four national conventions of the order,
and others who have seen grand aerie
meetings agree with me. We arc in re-
ceipt of requests for information touch
ing the coming convention and also for
cuts of officers and scenes in and about
Omaha. These requests come from
publications located as far east as Mass
achusetts, as far west as Anacortes and
from New Orleans and Nome and Seattle
and Victoria. d. c.
Omaha business men and all interested
in making Omaha eligible to enter the
lists for large conventions must wake up
to the big job ahead of the committees
on finance, entertainment, parade and
drills and other features. The finance
committee. especially, should be gener-
ously treated as soon as the chairman,
Robert Bacon, sends his subcommittee
around to see our business men. At this
time last year Seattle had $4,000 in hand
and as much more promised as might be
needed. Here is the first real test in
convention entertainment that Omaha has
had to meet, and IL we treat the thou
sands of visitors in good shape they
will become walking advertisements for
our city and our state
Hotels emit Reserving.
this time, l I'm told, some of the
larger hotels have practically had to cease
making reservations for the convention,
but whether they have or not 1t is a sure
thing that every available bed that can
be listed will be needed TO care for our
guests next September. Think of six days
something like. Mckinley day at the time
of the exposition, and that will about de-
scribe the multitudes we will draw here If
we go about the work in the right way,
issue our programs in good time and ad-
vertise the gathering as we should. We
ought to have two full regiments of uni
formed men in line from the Nebraska
aeries alone, and right now we have q
challenge from a picked team OF twenty
two men at Seattle to drill against any
other teams in this country for $1,000 a side
in addition to the regular prizes always
offered"
w. r, Bennett. chairman OF the committee
on promotion and publicity, is answering
all requests so far as he can. but the gen.
eral committee has not yet got far enough
along with It's arrangements to begin ad'
vertising In earnest. The canvassing com.
mittees have about made up their lists and
will soon begin their work. Announcement
will be made when they are ready TO star
on their rounds.
The annual field day for all New Eng.
land Eagles is to be held at F1tohburg
Mass, on June %. and the Omaha commit.
tee has 1t in mind to send a representative
to that gathering with advertising matter
Word comes also that Omaha clubs arr
forming in many cities. New Orleans being
the latest to give notice of such a club.