The Washington times., 1910-03-02
Public Organizations Join
With Business Men in
Waging Warfare.
VITAL PRINCIPLE
HANGS IN BALANCE
Nothing Short of Items Restora-
ton in Measure Will Satisfy
Public, Say Residents.

Nothing short Of the restoration OF
the Fairgrounds item in the District
appropriation bill by the House Of
Representatives, the money TO come
from the general fund of the Treas
ury on the half and half principle, is
to be accepted by the citizens Of
Washington and their friends in
Congress, according to the state
mentS of representative business
men of all shades of political belief
today.
ALL ARE FIGHTING.
A vital principle is involved
they assert in the campaign which
started yesterday when the report
of the conference committee of
the two houses was presented
with the Fairgrounds provision
practically stricken out. For
twenty-four hours men and women
Of all classes Of society nave been
formulating a movement that
eliminated in a call for a mass
meeting this afternoon at the
Chamber of Commerce, at 8 o'clock,
with the idea Of presenting Con-
gress tomorrow an unqualified
statement Of the situation with a
firm demand that the Fairgrounds
be given what they term square
and just treatment.
Calls It Violation.
The matter OF the half and half prin-
ciple of government expenses in the
District will be insisted upon by the
protestants who regard any violation Of
its terms, as set forth in the organic
act Of the local government, as a direct
abrogation on the part Of Congress of a
contract made at the instance Of the
national legislative bodies themselves
The men who have been foremost in
the fight for better playground faciIi-
ties and who are identified with the
principal bus ness institutions Of the
city, practically organized themselves
today into a formidable phalanx for the
attack that is TO be made on Congress
tomorrow They declare they have
good friends on the floor Of the House
who will stick to them to the last and
who have bound themselves to permit
no legislative trick thwaTJ their pur-
pose. Friends in the Senate have
agreed 20 promptly ratify the action
that is taken in the House.
That is the situation as 10 Fairgrounds
that was presented this afternoon i'm
mediately before the delegations Of the
Chamber of Commerce, the Board Of
49,
met al the Chamber OF Commerce 10
solidify themselves and agree upon the
final form of their protest. Il has been
decided 10 present a solid front but This
not hinder the individuals composing the
committee which may be appointed from
using any personal influence they may
have with individual members OF the
House.
Business Men Aroused.
The business men of the city. who
have voiced strong sentiments in the
playground situation are also aroused
as TO the violation of the organic act
which they believe was contemplated
in the original House provision for this
purpose. They declare there are two
important principles involved in the
present crisis which must be settled
now for all time. Their method OF
presenting the matter 10 the House
will be in the nature Of a campaign of
education. They state they do not be-
lieve half the members Of Congress
really understand the reason the
United States Government pays half
the expenses Of the District This at
titude is the direct result Of a letter
received by James +. West. secretary
of the Playground Association, from
q member Of Congress who frankly
stated his opposition TO the play
grounds was based on a repugnance
to appropriate money from the Nation
al Treasury for an institution that is
CContfnued on Sixth papeo