The San Francisco call., 1910-12-10

organizations that are laboring for the
development Of san Francisco, no or
ganization is more deserving of sup
port than the Convention league. This
body since its formation in June, 1909,
has been the means Of bringing to San
Francisco about 300. 600 persons. and in
addition to this it has already secured
conventions that will bring to San
Francisco in 1911 more than 200 600
more.
The Call has always given TO the
convention league liberal support and
is always ready and willing to lend to
such enterprises q helping hand.
ORGANIZATION
Spurred on by the feeling that con-
Certed and systematic action must be
taken If san Francisco is to secure
her share Of conventions in competition
with other leading cities of the coun-
Try several public spirited citizens held
2 meeting June %. 1903 and organized
the Convention league.
The league established headquarters
January ., 1910. in the Merchants Ex-
change building. Since that time it has
been continually enlarging its office
space and clerical force.
PLAN OF CAMPAIGN
For "a few citizens in q large city to
attempt 20 reach out all over the United
States and swing large conventions for
san Francisco is a heroic underta king.
How 10 bring the necessary pressure to
bear, how 10 give the necessary guar
antees. and how TO assure subscribers
of tangible results were problems
which confronted the league.
The league tackled these problems
in a manner worthy Of the cause. How
well j. has succeeded is manifest.
The plan adopted is this. Whenever
rnrr1per made the cec1rrf,cy Of
~ convention the league ascertains the
attendance from the city where the last
4 convention was held The board of
, directors then determines whether il is
sdvisab bic to endsavOr TO secure the
convention and how much should be
expended for that purpose.
This decided. the secretary opens
preliminary negotiations with the Off
GERS and directors Of the forthcoming
convention.
Investigation is made TO ascertain
who the representatives from San
Francisco and the Pacific coast are.
These are interviewed and pressed into
service as representatives. OF the
league. # necessary or deemed ad-
Visable. q special delegation is sent.
Headquarters are opened. California
products and literature are distrib-
uted. BaDquets and receptions are
rendered The delegates are thor
oughly canvassed.
CALIFORNIA ADVERTISED
Whether convention is brought to
san Francisco or not. every delegate TO
every large convention is thoroughly
informed as to San Francisco and Cali
fornia- These conventions, consisting
as they DO of the representative men
IN their respective spheres from every
part OF the country. are the very best
mediums through which TO advertise
san Francisco and California.
Going home TO their various districts
the delegates to these conventions dis
seminate knowledge concerning San
Francisco and the state at large
The benefits that flow from this sort
or advertising are incalculable. In the
past the league has not been able to
carry on this campaign Of advertising
as extensively as ii would like to be-
cause Of an insufhciency of funds.
: PAMPHLETS TO BE DISTRIBUTED
The league intends 10 publish and
distribute at the teachers convention
in Los Angeles this month $4,000
pamphlets advertising San Francisco
and the forthcoming convention of the
National Educational association. In
snticips ton Of this latter convention,
which is 10 be held in this city in July.
the league proposes soon to publish
and distribute throughout the United
states 125.OO0 pamphlets advertising
san Francisco and the National Edu-
cational assOcia tion.
The matter Of giving to convention
the required guarantees is a matter Of
even greater importance than convinc-
ing il Of the Jesirsbility of this city
for convention purposes.
The requirements of the different
conventions are varied, and only an
nizstion such as the Convention
les que can satisfy those requirements
Tn some cases the concessions asked
for are very slight and easily pro-
1-ided. In other cases they are very
exacting and tax the energies and
finances Of the league.
No matter how slight the require
vre7ts may be. unless some such body
as the Convention league is on deck 10
i've the necessary assurances, the con-
vention viii go TO that city which does
grant them.
POSTCARDS WANTED
The American osteopathic associa-
tons only requirement was that II
e5orId secure 10000 postals commem-
orsfive of its assemblage in this city,
request which was gladly complied
u tn.
Among the requirements of various
Conventions are. A minimum railroad
rate. q minimum hotel and restaurant
rae annie recommendations, bonus,
hsu of ample dimensions, executive
headouarters.s programs, publicity, IN
creased membership, excursions, etc.
The league pledges itself 10 these
requirements. and when IL ooes
pNdges the credit and good faith OF
thN cffv. In every case so far II has
mare good. In every case in the future
il must make good
To carry out its agreement the
league finds il necessary to get from
the railroad companies reduced rates.