The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1920-03-19

appreciative of her heroes. In proof
of this, witness the soldiers and sail
0rs' monument which was erected
thirty years ago, costing then over
$50o,000-a monument almost 500 feet
in height-and the patriotic manner
in which Indiana's sons have answered
the call in all previous wars.
"All were surprised to learn that
Indianapolis has the most complete
electric traction terminal building in
the world where more than 10000
passengers each day arrive and depart
on about 500 high-speed electric inter-
urban cars. The fact that we built
the first union railway station in the
world Also appealed to many.
1--WE found few knew that Indi-
annapolis was the home city of the late
Vice President Charles w. Fairbanks.
the home city of Vice President Mar
shall, the late James Whitcomb Riley
and the late Benjamin Harrison; of
Booth Harrington, Meredith Nicholson
and other literary men of national
note.
I'VE explained that in addition to
our unusual location and railroad facil-
tiles, the city was well equipped with
many first-class hotels, large auditori-
ums for conventions, and everything
in the way of theaters and motion pic
ture houses that delegates to a con-
yentfon might require, theaters and
60 motion picture houses.
1.-THE many buildings of interest
We're also described-a post office &C.
cunying a city block and costing more
than a half million dollars; a central
library, erected at cost of more than
a half million dollars, with fourteen
branches and thirty-five other distrib-
uting agencies; state capitol occupy
ing two city blocks; courthouse of
unusual architectural beauty, and 50
on.
''Of course. we bored some listeners.
and we had to permit the boosters of
other cities to have their say, but.
nevertheless, we got across the many
advantages offered by this city of
30S,000 population. We tried to ap-
peal TO the particular interest Of the
man with whom we were talking.
Thus, we told the men from farm
ing and rural districts that the prin-
cipal industry from the value of prod
uct is slaughtering and meat packing,
That last year 1.394,452 hogs, PCS, 42S
cattle and calves. and 1903 sheep
were killed. They were Interested TO
know that more than 3,3OO.OOO head
OF live stock were received at Indi-
annapolis stock yards the year before.
ITO the same men we told that G.
TBS. $50 bushels of wheat and p .5Ss, 500
bushels Of corn were handled by local
dealers, and total of 100000 BUSH
els of grain handled in elevators hay-
Ing combined capacity of 2,4SO. 900
bushels
None of the college men seemed 70
know that Butler college at Indi-
annapolis was the first college in the
country to receive women on equal
roofing with men. And in the same
way we had marshalled facts to inter.
est men of every occupation and in
terest.
Il venture there was not a delega-
tfon at the convention so well in
formed on what their city had to offer.
Certain men We're assigned to work
with the delegations from the different
states. We took with us a motion pic
ture film showing the city, but had
not an opportunity TO use it.
= i. Il ! r 4
But, as ! said before. l believe the
fact that we landed the G. Fl. @. Of |
the legion was due solely to superior |
craftsmanship"