The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-07-18
finest OF ALL, SAY
ELKS Of DETROIT
CONVENTION
Local Officers Meet Criticism With
Letters and Expressions of Praise
From Visitors To Reunion and
Declare Detroit Will Benefit.
Appropriation by Council Much
Smaller Than in Los Angeles and
Philadelphia, Says Burgess.

fTtu >. burBesS, CndlIuldu Vi ihC %
ecutive committee OF the Elks' col
yention, received the following sci
explanatory letter through the mai
morning:
Detroit, July 16, 10.
Frederick S. Burgess, Chairman
Executive Committee.
Dear Sir-I have read consider
able comment and criticism In the
daily press OF your city In re-
CARDS 10 the expenditures for the
Elks' convention, but aside from
this have heard nothing but the
highest OF praise from all strang-
ers visiting your beautiful city,
and | must say II was well de-
served. IL will leave a lasting
impression for good In the minds
OF every visitor. II was the best
and finest convention / ever saw
and the decorations and illumina-
lions were on a grand scale. Your
business men, who contributed so
generously and lavishly to that
end. are deserving of the highest
praise. IL showed a spirit of civic
pride In their city that will bear
fruit In the future. and we'll
worthy OF emulation by cities OF
far greater pretensions and prom
Uses, but far less fulfillment.
What is worth doing at all, Is
worth doing well. and that Is
what your people have done. II
any city In the country can sur
pass them In the doing, | want to
hear OF IL. for / am from Missouri
and thew must show me.
am not an Elk, so I claim TO
be impartial in my judgment, but
/ do believe that the Elks' con-
vention brings more people TO a
city. and from all quarters of our
country. than any other conven-
ton that could be held. and for
that reason think your people
acted wisely, even though at great
expense, as Il will spread the fame
and fair name OF your city
throughout the land. II will be
money well spent In spreading its
good reputation broadcast, and
you Will not have to go TO that
great expense again TO sustain II,
for you have established II, and
your visitors and friends, who
have been 40 well entertained and
taken care of. will do that.
IL gives bad and a very false
impression when your papers pub
lish such comments and crit.
cisms. IL Is undeserved, for no
city could have done more, 10 de-
serve success than has Detroit
and its people. Very few, II any,
have done as well. and as our
humble stranger in your gates,
would feel as If | was recreant to
all sence OF justice and fair play
IL | did not tell you 80. | will be
eaving your city in few days
and these are the impressions left
on my mind. | am no stranger
TO these things.
Very truly and sincerely yours,
j. NJ. J. COFFEY,
st. Louis, Mo.
The letter of Mr.. Coffey," said MI
burgess. lis only one of many EXPIRE!
ions OF the kind | have received
There may be some who are findin
.ault with our way of conducting tn
but they are very few
number. Moreover, they are not d.
roit Elks, as one paper has pointe
out. The Elks Of Detroit, TO a mar
are of the opinion that the conventio
was n success in every way. and tha
no one has room for complaint.
One paper has stated that the d.
troit common council gave 70 $4,000
That is not true. The coaAcil CAV
ps S2S,500, which was for decoration
and nothing else. The council CAV
The board OF health $500 and the p'
ice department $4,000 to help care 70
the crowds, but those items cannot b
charged up TO the Elks themselves
we are grateful for what we got froI
ne council, but | should like to hay
il known that Los Angeles, Denve
aud Philadelphia, gave much large
for Elk conventions tina
aid Detroit. Philadelphia gave $S4
900.
Another thing | should like TIL
Times 10 point out Is that the Ell
{, nept $4,000 of their own money
helm provide the decorations, for whic
the councils money was voted. w
a sed 10000 to provide the feed wire
for the electricity used in lightin
Woodward-ave. and other portions I
the decorated sections. This wor
,yas all done by Detroit electrician
, arpenters and decorators, at that. )
Detroit wcrkmen were not slighte'
as one of the papers has intimated
detroit today is almost back to no
NAL conditions. With the exception
. few antlered brethren who rename
over for the annual meeting oil IN
Michigan Retail Lumber Dealers. a
.ociation. which is now on, the Elk
zig aud little, have all departed. Gran
secretary Fred c. Robinson was tn
Last of the grand lodge officers TO s.
away. leaving Sunday night.
sunday was truly a day Of rest fC
The weary citizenship OF Detroit an
PARTICULARLY for the members OF ID
troIt lodge No. "a. B. +. o. L. Ha
no popuiace, so IL seemed, was "a
in" and Sunday was the great snoo7
day. though 1t will take some OF th
folks a week TO make up for the slice
lost and the wear and tear on II
nerves.
Grand Exalted Ruler Garry" Her
mann left Saturday night, loud In h
praises of Detroit's hospitality. II
promised to be back in the fall. pr
vided Detroit again wins the baseba
remnant. Mr.. Hermann and his part
returned TO Cincinnati In priva'
train placed at his disposal by Gei