The Washington times., 1911-12-26
CONVENTION HERE
EXPECTED TO AID
ROADS OF NATION
Session to Be Held by the
Automobile Asso-
citation.
SPECIFIC WORK OF
BRINGING REFORM
Governmental Participation in
Road Building to Be Discussed
at Willard.
By HARRY WARD.

The Federal aid good roads convention
III the American Automobile Association,
to be held at the New willard. January
is and II, promises 20 be the most COM
prehenslve national gathering Of road
enthusiasts and road workers ever held
in the United States.
The principal and specific work Of the
convention will be given to the thorough
discussion Of governmental participn-
ton In road building. and to the EFFORT
to settle upon some definite plan which
shall be Satisfactory to the thousands
who now believe in the principle. Of
Federal cooperation In highway work.
Attending the convention win be many
OF the best-known people In the auto
mobile world. including manufacturers
OF cars and those who drive them for
pleasure.
Five sessions Of the convention viii
be held during the two days, and many
eminent speakers. including Senators
and congressman. will plead for Fed
eral aid in improving the country.s
highways Members Of the Automobile
Club OF washington will act as q recop.
ton committee In welcoming the dele
gates.
The Society Of Automobile Engineers
, Will close the year with nearly LOO
members. Applications for member
ship are coming in at the rate of 100
e month. The public at large, and per-
haps even the automobiie world. IL
mat Sf tSs Sf the
osrry1nr Of the ,n society which e
! Of materials used in the automobile In
| mobile engineers, and the leading auto
mobile and automobile parts companies,
who hold membership, there viii be
found represented in the conference Of
merciai organizations OF the United
are allied with the automobiie industry.
In fos sSSey Of these
mercial diversity Of the automobile
field as wen as Of the activities Of the
Society OF Automobile Engineers.
An innovation at the Madison Square
Garden automobile show will be the
/ atrtcal matinee. Each year many actors
and actresses visit the motor car ex-
hibit during the week. and inasmuch an
lists nowadays and really interested in
cars, the show committee has decided
to set aside n special afternoon for
them. Invitations will be extended to
lieved by the management that this will
make the show doubly attractive to the
drama folk, as in this way they will be
able to meet and talk car" and look at
the new models with their brother ac-
tors.
The matinee will be strictly an invita-
| ton affair. The guests OF the manage
ment will be a certain number OF promi-
enjoy a high-class display OF cars. It
will also be their last opportunity to see
any sort OF show In Madison Square
Joe Matson and Harry Grant. the ia
nous automobile racers. have a new vo-
cation this winter. They have been On
gagged by the makers Of q shock alb
sorber to act as special representatives
for the device. Matson will be Stationed
given the New England territory. The
two great drivers had opportunities Of
seeing how the shock preventer worked
during the Savannah races.
Bob Burman's Ohio racer has arrived
! in Indianapolis and was taken to the
4 speedway to be tuned up for the trials.
Burman will occupy the camp Of the
way. Cocky wilcox and Don Herr, the
pilots Of the Blue Racers. will do every
thing they can to help Burman get his
car ready for the test.
Burman's tests on the brick course
Will merely be experimental work on his
new car. which was built chiefly for
circular track work. Burman may ALSO
way in the event that 1t can hold the
track without burning. OFF the tires.
Many local fans are planning journey
tuning UP. as BVrman's driving is al
ways spectacular 1t is likely that the
trials Will prove as attractive as the
tests which were held about this time
strsng tuned UP the Flat Mephisto-