Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-07-22
CONVENTION HALL
WOULD SAVE CITY
S1O,OOO,OOO A YEAR
Chamber of Commerce, in
Open Letter, Points Out
Annual Loss to Philadel-
phia and Urges Immedi-
ate Action by Councils.
Citizens Should Get in Touch
With Their Councilmen and
Impress Upon Them the
Need of Definite Action in
September.

An open letter to the citizens Of Phlla-
deiphia, urging united action to induce
Councils to act promptly upon the project
OF building a convention hail. has just
been issued by the Philadelphia Chamber
Of Commerce. The letter charges that the
business men Of this city are losing annu-
ally about 100000 as the direct result
of Councils neglect in the convention hall
matter.
The success Of the movement to get the
Republican National Convention here In
1915 also depends upon action by Councils
Immediately after they convene in Sep
tember. the letter also shows. The letter
marks the beginning Of a systematic
campaign to crystallize public sentiment
upon the matter between now and Sep
tember The letter follows, in part:
THE Philadelphia Chamber OF Com
merce calls upon the citizens of Philadel-
phla to give their active support to the
effort that II Is now putting forth to in
duce Councils to act promptly upon the
project OF building convention hail.
Philadelphia. for many years, has felt the
need Of such building, but at this time
It is particularly important that definite
steps should be taken in this direction
Immediately
THE Allied Advertising Clubs OF the
World. which bring together nearly 10000
city stands an excellent chance OF getting
the Republican Natiopal Convention for
1916. An invitation has been extended by
this organization to the Republican Ma
tiona Campaign Committee to come to
Philadelphia, and the information received
at the office of the secretary seems favor
able to the convention being held here
next year. The most serious obstacle is
the lack of suitable building to accom-
modate the convention.
These two conventions will bring hun
dreds of thousands of dollars to the rner-
chants, hotels and other business interests
OF Philadelphia.
philadelphia needs a building near the
business centre of the city, adjacent to
the tracks Of the railroads having their
terminals in Philadelphia; a building that
is accessible from all parts of the city
and which is designed to accommodate |
conventions attended by 1OO 1000 or 20, 900 |
persons.
This subject has been debated for a |
number OF years and public sentiment is |
unanimously in favor OF the erection of |
such a building.
THE Chamber of Commerce therefore
takes this occasion to urge each of its
members, and every citizen of Phladel-
phia Immediately to get in touch with
their respective representatives in Coun-
ellis, by personal interview or by letter
and to urge that at the first meeting of
Councils in September definite action
hall be taken toward selecting a site
ind getting under way the erection of a
hall.
mo efforts should be spared during the
summer to impress upon Councils that
the people of Philadelphia thoroughly ap-
preciate the city's great need in this re-
spect, and that members OF Councils will
% held to strict accountability should
hey neglect to act promptly in this