Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-10-10
I|LEPSSW|N
RICHMOND
BANKERS
MEET
Eloquent Plea ExtoIIing Virtues Of
Mint in "Wet" Town De-
feats Atlanta.

BOSTON. Oct. 10.-The fragrant
and delicious mint julep lost Atlanta
the 1914 convention Of the American
PaHkers' Association. That is the
consensus of opinion among the del
egates here to-day.
This insidious decoction, whose po-
tency every true Southerner insists
& would divert the course of empires,
s was powerful enough to sweep the
& delegates to vote for Richmond, Va,
as the 1914 convention city after At
4 anta admittedly had the gathering
4 pledged and practically delivered.
Calmly reviewing yesterdays ac-
ton. it appears almost unbelievable
that body Of Ooldly calculating, I'M
Imaginative jugglers Of figures ane
interest tables could be swayed by
any sentimental argument, but the
sober fact remains that at the magic
mention of the South's most famed
ibation the bankers were stampeded.
Thus Atlanta lost.
How 1t Happened.
Here is how it came about. At
lanta had made a valiant fight Her
claims ably had been presented by
John X. Ottley. His remarks were
seconded by Sol Wexler, of New Or
leans, Other good speakers from the
South followed. Victory was hover
ing over the banners of the Gate City.
There appeared no hope for any Of
the rival cities.
floor for Richmond. The delegates,
out Of courtesy, were willing to listen
to him, but they did not propose to
change their minds in the least. They
had decided irrevocably upon At
lanta.
Mr. McAdams conceded to Mr.. Ott-
ley all of the claims he had made in
behalf of Atlanta He was more than
gracious. The delegates were even
more confirmed in their selection of
the Georgia city.
But" he added-and here the
bankers began to take some interest
in his remarks-"Richmon has all
the advantages of this other Southern
city and one thing else"
What could it be? Every separate
banker stirred in his seat and prick
ed up his respective ears.
And Here IL Is,
Then exactly at the psychological
moment, McAdams told them. 1t was
the festive mint julep!
There was an undignified whoop of
appreciation. McAdams let the sig
nifcance of this overwhelming ad-
vantage sink into their conscious
nesses and then he subtly suggested
hat if they came to Richmond they
would not have TO go TO a club every
Tine they desired moist refreshments.
Atlanta. he warned the bankers, was
a cry" town. Richmond was not,
besdes, the mint julep abounded in
profusion in the highways and by
ways Of the Virginia capital.
That was enough. There was a
sharp, short struggle Atlanta did
not give up without a fight. 1t re-
CURED two votes, but the mint julep
argument won. The convention which
Z few seconds before had been al
most unanimously of one mind for
Atlanta had been changed like magic.
Praises Hearst Papers.
The bulk of Georgia delegates, fol-
owing a days outing at Nantucket
Beach, will leave for their homes to-
night. That Atlanta lost the conven-
ION is nothing to the discredit of
Ar, Ottley, who led the fight, or any
q his lieutenants. At the close of
me convention Mr.. Ottley said:s
l am surprised that we were de-
teated. Up to the last minute l be-
seved We would win. The Richmond
..eiegates put up bitter fight on
ne floor of the convention and won
We congratulate Richmond. l want
thank the Hearst papers for their
sslpport. They aided us more than /
an explain in this interview"