The Washington times., 1911-01-08
HERE WITH BOON
FOR NEW ORLEANS
Short of Stature and Name,
But He Is Crescent
,City's Hustler.
RUSHES TO AID OF
FALLEN BANNER
Prompt Rescue of Canal Show
Emblem Characteristic of
His Energy.
% you know Sam Blum?

A gust of wind snapped the cords
that held so all might see the big New
Orleans-logical point" suspended
across F street in front of the Ebbitt
House. The boom banner had no
sooner struck the asphalt, threatening
to momentarily tie up street car
traffic. than an energetic little man
dashed out of the hotel, assembled
two or three bell-hops and a publicity
agent or so about him, and yanked the
banner skyward again.
The man of energy who gave first
aid to the injured was Sam Blum, Of
New Orleans, La. chairman of the
publicity committee which is seeking
to impress upon Congress certain rea-
sons why New Orleans should get the
Panama Exposition of 1915.
Sam BIum-who has just seven let
ters in his name and doesn't want to
he called SamuelA-didnt come to the
Capital to keep wind-flapped banners
in place. but the way he rushed TO
those falling New Orleans colOrs and
hoisted the emblem again, is pretty
good indication of the sort of work he
is doing in larger things.
Blum a Hustler.
Blum is hustler IF the public and
Congress doesn't become fully ac-
quainted with everything that the
Southern city has to offer in the way
of exposition facilities, it will not be
because Blum has failed to furnish
the ammunition.
Back home Blum is n produce mer-
chant with a tremendous business, in
a city that handles and ships about as
much produce as any in the United
States. He thinks no more Of hand
ling A carload of vegetables than does
the average person of buying bunch
of grapCS He is one of the most IA
miliar figures along Poydras street,
that famous New Orleans mart or trade
from a bantam chicken to a full
grown cows bartered and sold every
business day in the year.
Blum has been produce merchant
for twenty-three years and he ism hft Y
vet He came, or, rather, was brought,
10 Louisiana'S big port when he was but
two years old. There hasn't been
minute of those twenty-three years @ thht
Blum hasn't been on the job, and when
the expOSition promoters cast about for
a man who could push publicity,. every
body seemed to look in Blum's direction
at the same time.
Here "Pro Bono Publico."
Blum says he is in Washington pro
bono publico," as are a number OF other
New Orleans business men who have
come and will come and stay here until
CONGRESS gives the exposition to either
tho Southern bidders or the Golden
State.
The Dublicity manager reached WASH
inCton nine days ago. in charge OF
carload or so OF exhibits" now dis
tributed on three floors of the Ebbitt
House, which exhibits show the re-
sources and advantages OF "the logical
point." Just for the matter of illustra-
tion. Mr.. Blum brought along with him
everything that the Creole CITY GTo"S:
affects, or exports. There are stalks OF
sugar cane, Cumquats, gin tizzes, cups
of black coffee. terrapins, gallons OF mo-
lasses. and what not. And sam Blum
Daign of publicity, points with pride TO
each and every exhibit, and then rushes
TO a typewriter to reduce his views 10
writing. ,,, 49,,
especiallv when it comes to the chances
of New Orleans. He admits that there
Is CITY out West called San Fran
.SsiStants refuse to concede that an
eynosition will wander so far from the
logical path as to take up a temporary
residence there.
Got EN- Beaten.
Mr. Rlum makes a personal and bust
ness sacrifice nv leaving his produce
establishment at this time, but that
doesn't count with the loyal Louisian'
Ians who are here to bid everyone
''comc South
Tn here until the finish: we've go'
'em beaten. / believe saws the ener'
retic Blum, who is booming New Or
leans with the same aviditv that he
handles thousand-dcllar orders bacH
home "a.
In New Orleans Blum gets in the city
directory about like this:
"Produce merchant: vice president ol
the New Orleans Progressive Union. tht
Wholesale GroceTs' Association, and tht
Business Mems League: a director o.
other leading commercial enterprises
former president of the Touro lnfirm
arr, aud nublicitv manager for the Pan
ANA Exposition of 19l5.'
Mr.. Blum is Virile. enthusiastic
neyer-say-die sort OF a fellow. He Il
short in stature hut ample through the
chest and about the waist line, and M
has n nair of genial black eyes thai
inst fash dots and dashes of optimism
when he talks exposition. He has beer
n,shipe things for twenty-odd years
and the wheelharrow of progress is as
suredly heing showed to the front up a
campaign HEADQUARTERS in the Ebbit'
House these daYs.
10 you know Sam Blum? You ough'
20.