Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-03-14
SEIIDVIATURE
CONVENTION HALL
Dunber of Commerce Head
lays o Organization Will
Fight Plan
'xHIBIT SPACE NEEDED
Building Called Useless Without
Large Space for Display
ing Goods

Oppositlon 10 the small Convention HaP
7 a1nn n Increasing formal and emphatic
Ipooe~t 10 being prepared by the Chamber
q Comrnerce, while many business men De
mnvH6 the "cornpromise" Convention HAN
Xou11 be a poor investment. ana that u
wouId never bring large conventions 70
DAIIadeiphiz.
Ernest L. TriEg president Of the cham
~ Of Commerce. said that a protest would
~ made within the next few days
1--WE shall max. our stand emphatic
onn1nst the proposed plans for a small Con-
1Gnfion Hall" he explained
&. n the primary purpose Of convention
nii p TO bring TO philadelphia the big IN,
Guafrial conventions that result IN practical
bonent 10 the cities in which they meet and
70 their business Interests. Il will be a
waste Of public funds n the convention
buildins proposed by the Mayor II erected.
oecording to L. X. Duffield. superintendent
~ the Machinery Exhibition department
~ the Philadelphia Bourse and a member
~ the administrative committees ~ sew
ornI OF the largest conventions IN the coun-
ny. He said today:
sChIcago. Milwaukee and other cities
nee annually drawing the big conventions
fer which Philadelphia has lOnged because
tbey have convention halls. not only OF
oufncient seating capacity but including
nNnple space and facilities for exhibits ana
rooms for subsidiary meetings. with few
0Iceptions the really worthwhile cDnNeH-
tJons. are the Industrial conventions.
"As a member Of the administrative com
n1iffees Of several Of the large conventions.
! should be only too glad 10 press Phils-
.Ge}phia's claims when the meeting place rs
under consideration, but. knowing just what
- needed, have to keep silence. The first
question that would be asked would be
what exhibition facilities does your hall
eferT
iii IL about time that this city considered
the practical aspects Of convention bring
ing, The Industrial conventions 20 where
1aciiities for exhibiting and doing business
ere offered. Their members care nothing
Tor Philadelphia historical greatness. the
number Of its homes and it's various indus
tries. Interesting as they are. We can send
MI the committees we wish 70 talk about
sPhfIadelphia az the convention city and
load them down with Endorsements but II
viii be idle 10 expect results. hrm with
u1emberShiD In an Industrial convention will
moi send an engineer or a master mechanic
= hundred or thousand miles just 10 see
1ndependence Hall. He pays bis expenses to
Gef up and take charge Of an exhibit OF
kfs product and to gain ideas from the
exhibits OF others. And he knows that un-
less the exhibition space adjons the audi.
torinm his exhibit will not receive the
proper attention.
when we realize that Industrial con-
~onfions are not sight-seeing joyrides but
cold business proportions and that they are
prfmariIy expeditions. we will build the only
kind OF hall that will be worth while.
IT, as some say. the convention hail In
chiefly intended for local meetings. then
~ us continue TO use the buildings which
have almost the capacity Of the proposed
hall and save good money.
what We need II a hall with ample seat
- capacity. ample space for exhibitions
go plenty of facilities for subsidiary meet
lngs. II makes no difference whether the
Commercial Museum In ten minutes or ten
hours ride from the proposed hall Distance
~ any sort between the places for the main
maeefinGs and the exhibits is factor that
eifminstes a city choice for the holding Of
m Industrial convention"