Evening star., 1915-01-13
Electrical Association Man
Tells What Its Lack Has
Cost Washington.
LOST A MILLION DOLLARS
ON TWO BIG GATHERINGS
National Capital, He Says, Has Big
Advantage, But Accommodations
Are Deficient.

Following the meeting Monday OF ths
Washington Hotel Mems Association.
at which was appointed a committee to
plan for a great convention hall tn
Washington. II. c. McConnaughy, sec
retary of the American Electric Rail-
way Manufacturers Association, hal
some interesting things to say today as
to what Washington has missed by not
having provided a convention hah here.
He told OF two conventions which might
have come here last year or the yea
before which would have involved tho
spending OF s1.00o.0o0 in cash in thn
capital had Washington been able Ia
provide the necessary and proper quar-
ters.
Mr.. McConnaughy is at the New Will
lard Hotel, on business connected with
the coming midyear meeting and din
ner of the American Electric Railway
Association and American Electric Rail-
way Manufacturers Association, to bs
held there this year.
He is noted as director Of exhibits.
For number of years he has handled
the exhibits at the conventions of the
organization, of which he is secretary.
and the National Electric Light As
sociation, which are two of the largest
convention exhibits held in the United
States.
Starts With Advantage.
'washington starts out with big
advantage as a convention city," said
Mr.. McConnaughy. Every American
is anxious to come to the Capital city
as one of the show places of the coun-
try. Aside from the attractions which
the conventions themselves offer, there
IL the additional attraction that comes
from what Washington itself is able
to present in the way of interest.
Undoubtedly numerous conventions
have already come to this city. but tho
facilities offered to the larger gather
ings are not sufficient to bring here
the ones that really count.
For instance, the big conventions OK
the country, aside from the fraternal
orders. are those of the Master Car
Builders Association. the American
Electric Railway Manufacturers Assoc
citation. the two Good ROADS con- CON.
Association. These conventions leave
an average of at least $S0O.0o0 apiece
in cities in which their meetings ara
held. They are limited. however. IN
their choice to those cities which GAIA
afford the facilities which they must
have. The first essential is CONVEX
ton hall with from 10000 to 100000
square feet of floor space for exhibits
alone, In addition there must be meet
ing places for the main bodies ana Tor
their various sections, connected villa
the exhibit held.
Lost a Million Dollars.
'In 1919 spent some time in WASH
ington, going over with the various
people interested plans for conven-
ton hall on the old Pennsylvania sta
tion site. 1 have no doubt that IL the
plans had been carried out that Wash
ington could have secured that year
both the Master Car Builders and Elec-
trio Railway conventions. Unfortu-
nately the plans failed Of fulfllment
and Washington lost two meetings
which would have brought to their
hotels and merchants at least $1,000,O0O.
These figures seem large. but when
1t is considered that both these or
ganizations have some fifty oarioads
Of exhibits, weighing from 500 to 1000
tons, and that they are attended by
between 1000 and 5000 delegates. who
are in the city for a week. the modera-
tion Of my estimate will be apparent.
Il am firmly convinced that IL WASH
ington had such convention hall II
could be used for a variety of pur-
poses. such as, for instance, the inaugu-
raj ball, II it is ever resumed mass
meetings of various sorts and a number
of other things which easily suggest
themselves, and that this city could
obtain a very large number of the lead
ing conventions Of the country.
Attracted by Washington.
II know that my own association,
which holds its meetings in connection
with the American Electric Railway
Association, would gladly have come TO
Washington on several occasions. as ~
shown by the fact that it has planned
to hold its midyear conference and
banquet here January %. This occa-
sion will bring about 500 of the leading
railway executives and manufacturers
of railway supplies to Washington.
which is. of course. worth while Tor
any city The conventions of the Two
ORGANIZATIONS, however. would bring
more than 1000 people. who. instead of
staying for one day, would be in WASH
ineton for a week. I very much hope
that the Chamber of Commerce and tho
Board of Trade will take this matter
up and will be able to secure the IN
terest of the business men OF Washing
ton in this proposition. which will work
to the advantage of the entire CONNER
cial interest of the community.
IT expect that the coming midyear
conference and banquet will have very
much influence in convincing our men-
hers and those of the railway asso.
ciation that Washington is an ideal
place in which to hold a convention.