The Washington times., 1915-01-15
SAYS CAPITAL may
Be: Be. CONVENTION ] II /: CITY
Many. Organizations Would
Come Here Il Suitable Hall
Were Built, Say Hotel Men.

Warrington may yet become Ameri-
ca's principal convention city. accord
Ing to the washington Hotel Mems AS
sociafion's arguments In urging the
erection Of an adequate convention hall
here.
The association has decided to call
upon the Chamber Of Commerce. Board
Of Trade, Retail Merchants' Association,
citisens' associations. and other trade
and civic bodies to Join with it in a
concerted action for the erection CT
proper building.
That the movement will receive the
disbursement that it merits. and the ho-
tel association the cooperation which
q seeks 10 assured. Though none Of
aresS 70 lake sas action 0ese tse
aaaurance Of the willingness Of their
rsspective members not only to indorse
~ occurring the financial aid necessary.
The real estate men Of Washington
%oo!d back 4 convention hall move
ment from the word co." declared John
a.. sioer. esassi Hssosiaton IL .ne Tsere Tse1 rs
nothing that. could be done for Wash1
!neton. that would bring more dollars
Into the city than the establishment OF
IN adequate upto-date convention hall.
Any Other City Would Have Hall.
In any other city, have not a
qoubt, were. the need for a convention
Aell - great. portion Of the mvnici-
pal funds would have been devoted to
ats erection. but II we are to make
q campaign for such. a hall here, we
must give 1t business atmosphere.
whenever this subject has been pro-
1osed In the past. popular subscription
mas been suggested. What is needed
y the appointment Of an experienced
sutton. He should Be- permitted to
make bookings for the hall; not for con-
ventlons alone, but for concerts, lee
lures. and other entertainments as well.
sre no enter and Ind
afternoon which, were there suitable
quarters. would be presented in the
evening when many more persons would
way the convention hall would quickly
be put on z paying basis"
Fatrick T. Moran. president of the
Chamber Of Commerce. though declin-
1ng 70 make any suggestion as to the
most suitable methods Of procedure in
seeking the hall. remarking that the
question OF Its establishment may come
!aeer before the chamber. said that he
was confident that he expressed the
sentiment Of the chamber when he said
that Washington should by all mea MS
nave such q building.
n. Sn: Ss.n Of s 20 S o. res Tssas
Of convention hail.. said E. G. Bran
denburg. acting president OF the Board
of Trade. II do not think that tho
question, but I am sure were the sub
its support" -
Would Reap Great Advantages.
"Washington would reap great advan-
taSes from q building such as Is con-
tempaated." declared r. F. Hight. presi-
dent Of the Hotel Mems Association.
Il have frequently been told by repre-
sentatives of. many OF the larger asso-
caations which now meet at Atlantic
City that they would prefer Washing
ton could they be accommodated here
The hotel men point not alone to
commercial conventions. many Of which
snggested that were hall Of sufficient
proportions erected Washington could
secure the great national political con-
Tho absolute need for such a build.
ing. the advocates Of the idea say. was
demonstrated only q few months ago.
Representatives Of one of the largest
commercial conventions held in this
ington and Atlantic City. They pre-
ferred to come to Washington. as they
had for q number Of years met at At
lantic City. and desired a change. 1t
would <sequtrs 5000 rooms 10 accomn,o.
date the delegates. thus showing the
financial berefit that would have re-
suited: But when the joint conventions
committee Of the Board Of Trade. Chain
ber Of Commerce. and Retail Mer-
chants Association looked about for
convention quarters they could find but
one building Of sufficient size. Not
withstandinE the fact that the struc-
lure was unocoupied at the time. its
owner. said that he would require 81. .0UO
for the use of the hail for the brief
period that the convention would be i'm
session. Many other meetings. it is
said, are lost to Washington for very
sirailar srAaaona