Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-29
WI ASHLNGTON is rapidly becoming
w the convention city Of America

WI ASHLNGTON is rapidly becoming
w the convention city Of America.
AS the nations capital, as the
nome OF the governments great depart
ments, In some one bureau Of, which
nearly every society or organization in
the country Is especially Interested; as
the home of Americas largest library.
Its National Museum. the Smithsonian
Institution. etc, Washington as a con-
vention center offers attractions which
no other city Of the western world can
aspire to.
Up to short time ago commercial
Washington had done practically nothing
to attract conventions to the National
Capital: instead it's business men merely
allowed the natural advantages of the
capital to take the place Of any sys-
tematic effort on their part to induce So
cieties and organizations to hold their
great annual meetings here.
Strange as it may seem, Washington.
the home Of so many public buildings is
greatly hampered by the lack of suit
able hall or auditorium in which to hold
conventions or large gatherings of any
kind. This defect, however, is soon TO
be remedied by a national organization
or prominent men and women, VINO are
already raising funds in all parts of the
country to erect in the capital the George
Washington Memorial Hall. This i'm
mense auditorium they hope to have
completed in 1913, at the date of the next
inaugural ball. 1t is to cost about $1,000
00O and large amount of this fund has
already been subscribed or pledged.
This national auditorium or People S
Capitol" as it has been called. is to be
erected by the George Washington Me-
mortal Association. of which Mrs. Henry
F. Dimock OF New York city. the wife
of prominent lawyer and the sister OF
OF the American navy" is president
While Mrs. Dimock. g. woman of prom
inent social standing. inspired by nigh
patriotic motives, Ia increasing the men,
beCship of the George Washington Memo
rial Association in all parts of the
country, the business men of Washington.
approaching the commercial advantages
Of a national auditorium, have pledged
their support to her and are now raising
a substantial sum as Washington's con
Washington Board Of Trade and Chamber
Of Commerce, aroused by Mrs. Dimock,
who has spoken before each body. are
working hard in the interests OF the
memorial building and have also mapped
out a systematic plan of attracting con-
ventions to Washington.
This strange combination Of a national
organization OF men and women lnSplren
by patriotic motives and or the business
men of Washington. working chiefly from
a commercial point of view, will do much
to increase Washingtons popularity as
convention city. However. the natural
advantages Of the capital itself are large
ly responsible for the movement.
Within the past five months Washington
has had a larger number and a greater
variety Of conventions than any other city
in the United States, ranging from the
conference of governors to the convention
of ladies' tailors; almost every interest.
political. civic. commercial. medical.
scientific, racial patriotic and fTaternai.
has met in annual convention in this
city. Governors from thirty states met
here early in January to discuss plans
for bringing about uniformity o. laws
between the states. At the same time the
American Civic Federation met in an
nual conference and also the Association
of Life Insurance Presidents.
The Association of Marine Engineers
was the next organization to choose the